Although overlap can be greatly reduced with sectional control, it can’t be completely eliminated as was shown in trials conducted last year for Alberta Pulse Growers. The study also found there was less overlap of larger seeds (such as peas on left) versus smaller ones (like canola on right).

Sectional control minimizes, but doesn’t eliminate overlap

The theoretical savings are great but overlap still happens, and size of both seed and sections matters

Reading Time: 4 minutes Unless you farm some magical piece of land where there are no stone piles, hills, water bodies or other obstacles to get around, you will always have some overlap. That extra seed or fertilizer can cost you big bucks over time — which is why stories about sectional control technology often focus on the potential […] Read more

CBOT May 2021 corn (candlesticks) with 20- and 40-day moving averages (yellow and orange lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn, soy climb to multi-year highs

Tight supplies, weather woes supportive; wheat also up

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn and soybean futures climbed to multi-year highs on Wednesday, supported by firm cash markets as old-crop supplies dwindle and weather issues threaten prospects for the 2021 harvests, analysts said. Wheat futures also rose, drawing additional support from frosty temperatures in the Plains and Midwest. Chicago Board of Trade May […] Read more


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Pulse weekly outlook: Slight increase in lentil acres likely

Increase 'won't be as big as people think'

MarketsFarm — Lentil acres are likely to increase slightly when farmers take to planting this spring, according to Marlene Boersch of Mercantile Consulting Venture Inc. in Winnipeg. The pulse industry will get a better idea of what will be going into the ground over the coming weeks on April 27, when Statistics Canada releases its […] Read more

CBOT May 2021 corn (candlesticks) with 20-day moving average (yellow line) and December 2021 corn (orange line). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn up on weather outlook, weaker dollar

CBOT May wheat down, K.C. May wheat up

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures rose on Monday, flirting with multi-year highs set last week, as forecasts for frosty weather and precipitation raised concerns about the pace of planting and germination, analysts said. A weaker dollar lent support, theoretically making U.S. grains more competitive globally. Soybeans followed corn higher, but wheat was choppy, […] Read more


CBOT May 2021 soybeans (candlesticks) with 20-, 40- and 50-day moving averages (gold, green and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybean futures rise

Wheat eases, corn mixed, traders focused on weather

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures rose on Friday, gaining ground on corn contracts as the market tried to entice farmers to boost acreage of the oilseed despite the yellow grain’s rally to its highest in nearly eight years earlier this week. “The last two weeks all the talk has been about the corn […] Read more

CBOT May 2021 corn with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn futures retreat from peak above $6

Wheat, soybean futures rise

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures closed mixed on Thursday, with the most-active contract easing on pressure from commercial hedging after spiking above US$6 a bushel for the first time since June 2013 during overnight trading. But concerns about seeding delays due to cold weather in the U.S. Midwest lifted new-crop corn contracts. Weather […] Read more


Kansas City May 2021 wheat (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, orange, green lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Futures rally on weather concerns

Wheat futures book biggest increases

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat, corn and soybean futures rallied on Wednesday, supported by concerns that a cold snap in the U.S. Midwest and Plains could hamper crop development, traders said. Chicago Board of Trade corn gained 2.4 per cent to hit its highest since June 2013. Wheat futures posted the biggest increases, with […] Read more

The Olson family has been seeding some canola with a corn planter on their operation near Pine Lake for the past two years. But this year will be the real test as they plan to plant all their canola this way.

On its way: Seeding canola with corn planter slowly gaining converts

The cost and learning curve are both high, but better results with less seed is a huge draw

Reading Time: 6 minutes Seeding their canola with a corn planter has meant a whole lot of work and a little bit of luck for the Olson family — but they hope this will be the year their work pays off. “This year, we’re doing all of our canola with the corn planter, where we’ve just done a couple […] Read more


ICE May 2021 canola with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: Canola fundamentals still strong in volatile market

MarketsFarm — ICE Futures canola contracts moved higher during the week ended Wednesday, with the largest gains in the old-crop months amid ongoing concerns over tight supplies. Day-to-day activity could remain volatile at times, but underlying fundamentals should remain supportive heading into the 2021 growing season, according to an analyst. While canola futures have traded […] Read more

CBOT May 2021 soybeans with 20- and 50-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soy, corn limit-up on planting intentions

USDA acreage data provides lift; wheat also higher

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybean and corn futures surged by their daily trading limits on Wednesday after the U.S. Agriculture Department released smaller-than-expected U.S. planting intentions. Wheat followed higher, despite USDA’s higher-than-expected quarterly grain stocks. The most-active soybean futures contract on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) added 70 cents to $14.36-3/4 per bushel, […] Read more