Premature bleaching of infected spikelet in wheat.

Don’t let your guard down — fusarium still a risk

Dry weather greatly reduced the incidence of the fungal disease last year, 
but the threat is likely greater than ever

Reading Time: 3 minutes Producers should be on the lookout for fusarium head blight this year, even though the incidence of the fungal disease was down in 2017. “Forecasting head blight is really quite challenging,” said Mike Harding, a research scientist and plant pathologist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. Read more: Provincial legislation isn’t helping fusarium battle, say seed growers […] Read more

Malting barley production down, quality up

Malting barley production down, quality up

Western Canada’s barley acres continue to fall, but malting barley quality was excellent

Reading Time: < 1 minute There was less malt barley produced this year but what did come off looked good, according to the Canadian Grain Commission. The organization’s 2017 Quality of Western Canadian Malting Barley report noted lower production, less acres, and a yield decrease, but high kernel weights and plumpness across the Prairies. Alberta and northeastern B.C. (the two […] Read more


Mundare-area producer Greg Porozni (l) talks wheat with Essa Al Ghurair, owner of the largest flour mill and canola crush plant in the United Arab Emirates, during a recent trade mission.

Being the best is no longer good enough

Global wheat buyers love our quality but cheaper alternatives have increased the need for building relationships

Reading Time: 4 minutes A recent trade mission to promote Canadian wheat went around the world in 14 days — or at least that’s how it felt to Greg Porozni. “We had a very successful mission,” the Mundare-area farmer said of his travels to Indonesia, Dubai, Nigeria, and Ghana last month. “These are growth markets, and that’s a really […] Read more

This little fellow breaks a lot of hearts at elevators every year. The rusty grain beetle is ranked as the No. 1 pest most often found in stored grain.

It happens too often — loads of grain rejected because of insects

It’s not uncommon for elevators to find insects in grain — but it’s entirely preventable by aerating properly

Reading Time: 3 minutes Loads of grain across the Prairies are being rejected as a result of insect contamination — but that’s pretty much par for the course at this time of year. “It’s something that’s actually pretty commonplace, so it’s not too surprising to hear,” said Brent Elliott, infestation control and sanitation officer with the Canadian Grain Commission. […] Read more


Speculative buying sees canola prices firm up

Speculative buying sees canola prices firm up

Winnipeg | CNS Canada – ICE Canada canola prices bounced around within a wide range during the week ended November 17, but finished on a firmer note as a rally in Chicago Board of Trade soybeans gave canola a boost. Any strength was largely tied to chart-based speculative buying, with no real fresh fundamental news […] Read more

Record weekly canola exports reported

Record weekly canola exports reported

Winnipeg | CNS Canada – Canada exported the most canola in a single week ever during the week ended November 5, according to the latest Canadian Grain Commission report. The CGC pegged weekly canola exports at 470,200 tonnes of canola during the reporting period. That compares with average weekly exports over the past year of […] Read more


Get an elevator receipt, grain receipt, or cash purchase ticket when delivering to an elevator.

Make sure you get paid what you’re owed

The Canadian Grain Commission requires grain companies it licenses to provide security to cover unpaid deliveries

Reading Time: < 1 minute Reduce your risk of not getting paid when delivering grain by following these recommendations: Before making a delivery, make sure the company is licensed by the Canadian Grain Commission, which requires licensed grain companies to provide security to cover money owed to producers for deliveries. Unregulated grains and deliveries of any grain to unlicensed grain […] Read more

Hand over wheat field in early summer evening.

Wheat growers, plan this fall for next year’s wheat class changes

Almost 30 wheat varieties will be transitioning to the new Northern Hard Red class 
next August, and that could impact your bottom line

Reading Time: 3 minutes Alberta wheat producers need to start preparing this fall for next year’s Canadian wheat class changes. “When some farmers plant their wheat in the spring, it will be Canadian Western Red Spring, and when they harvest it, it will be in the new class,” said Brian Kennedy, grower relations and extension co-ordinator at Alberta Wheat. […] Read more


A lot can go wrong in the bin, particularly with canola, which can be “quite volatile” in storage, says the Canola Council of Canada.

Proper grain storage pays off

Getting grain to proper temperature and moisture levels is just the first step — constant monitoring is also vital

Reading Time: 4 minutes A grain producer’s hard work doesn’t end at harvest. “A tremendous amount of work goes into getting that crop to the point where you can actually put it in storage,” said Brent Elliott, infestation control and sanitation officer at the Canadian Grain Commission. “And once they’ve put it in storage, the common thought is, ‘OK, […] Read more

Follow storage guidelines to protect your stored pulses

Follow storage guidelines to protect your stored pulses

Combining pulses when they’re tough reduces damage to seeds, but they then need to be dried down

Reading Time: 4 minutes Pulse crops retain their quality and maximize their marketability when a few grain storage guidelines are followed. Downgrading of pulses can occur when cracked seed coats or split seeds are present in the sample, or if a significant amount of seeds are heated or have a musty odour. The Canadian Grain Commission’s dry seed moisture […] Read more