Cedar Rapids | Reuters — U.S. lawmakers and state officials from Iowa said on Tuesday that much of the state’s corn crop will not be harvested following a fierce windstorm last week, as President Donald Trump visited to review the damage. The destruction from the Aug. 10 derecho storm compounded troubles for a U.S. agricultural […] Read more
Trump visits Iowa as officials warn storm destroyed corn crops
Grain beetles on the rise after wet harvest
Requests for pesticide certificates are up, likely because more grain is being turned away at elevators
Reading Time: 2 minutes Farmers are finding more grain beetles and that has provincial ag officials fielding more requests for renewals or issuing new certificates under the Farmer Pesticide Certificate Program. “We see it almost every year in southern Alberta, but it’s creeping up to central Alberta, too,” said provincial crop specialist Harry Brook. “After the very difficult harvest, […] Read more
Timely tips for safe grain storage
Aeration is a slow process when drying grain, moisture circulation is tricky, and green seed poses additional problem
Reading Time: 2 minutes It has been a difficult and stuttering harvest this year with short periods of combining between showers and cool temperatures. “You might breathe a sigh of relief when harvesting is complete, but it really isn’t done until the grain ends up at the buyer’s and is paid for,” said crop specialist Harry Brook. “Maintain vigilance […] Read more
Expert offers tips for successful crop storage
Keeping out pests and getting rid of excess moisture are key, says provincial crop specialist
Reading Time: 2 minutes A little preparation prior to harvesting can ensure worry-free winter crop storage. “Warm or wet conditions at harvest and multi-staged crops are potential ingredients for storage problems,” said provincial crop specialist Harry Brook. “Don’t get an unpleasant surprise when selling the grain with discounts or by being rejected for heated grain or insect problems.” Clean […] Read more
USDA won’t survey for volume of grain lost to March floods
Chicago | Reuters — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s statistical arm will not collect data on the volume of harvested grain lost when farms from the Dakotas to Missouri were hit by flooding in March that burst grain storage bins, a government official said on Tuesday. However, figures in USDA’s regular quarterly stocks report for […] Read more
Want to get paid for storing grain?
Taking advantage of a strong carrying charge market can make you some money, says market analyst
Reading Time: 2 minutes Confused about the price spread for crops between delivery months? Sometimes the spread between future month prices for crops with a futures market is particularly noticeable. The amount of carrying charge is a measure of what the market is paying to store the crop from one period to the next, said provincial crop market analyst […] Read more
Keep ‘unpleasant surprises’ out of your grain bins this fall
Don’t neglect the basics when storing grain or oilseeds, says provincial crop specialist
Reading Time: 2 minutes A little preparation prior to harvesting can ensure worry-free winter crop storage, says a provincial crop specialist. “Warm or wet conditions at harvest and multi-staged crops are potential ingredients for storage problems,” said Harry Brook. “Take the time to monitor the stored grain’s condition and cool those bins down. Don’t get an unpleasant surprise when […] Read more
More and bigger bins setting storage records across Prairies
Grain bin sales continue to grow, but producers planning on buying may want to act soon in the wake of tariffs
Reading Time: 4 minutes Twenty-nine million tonnes is a lot of grains and oilseeds, but that’s how much Prairie producers were holding on their farms as of March 31, according to Statistics Canada. What’s even more remarkable is that it doesn’t even come as much of a surprise — that number is only a little higher than the five-year […] Read more
Grain beetles appear to be on the rise this winter
A jump in inquiries about pesticide certificate program is a sign that grain pests are an issue, says crops specialist
Reading Time: 2 minutes Provincial officials have been fielding more requests this winter for the Farmer Pesticide Certificate Program for renewals or issuing new certificates, and grain beetles are the reason why. “We see it almost every year in southern Alberta, but it’s creeping up to central Alberta, too,” said crop specialist Harry Brook. “That is telling me that people are […] Read more
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
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