Precision AI’s drone is powered by a hybrid gasoline-electric engine, which provides up to two hours of flight time.

Green-on-green tech prepares for airborne launch

A Saskatchewan-based startup is testing precision drone spraying on the Prairies this spring, but there’s no word yet on a regulatory framework to allow full commercialization

There are a growing number of options for green-on-green herbicide spray application technologies available to farmers. Companies like John Deere, BASF and Bilberry are using artificial intelligence and advanced computer vision to develop green-on-green spot sprayers, some of them capable of functioning autonomously. What about an autonomous, green-on-green spot sprayer that flies? It might sound […] Read more

(File photo by Dave Bedard)

Canola fund short position still rising

Managed money net long in soybeans

MarketsFarm — The size of the fund short position in continued to rise in early March, according to the latest Commitments of Traders data out from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). As of March 7, the net managed money short position in canola came in at 46,222 contracts (61,998 short/15,776 long), an increase […] Read more


ICE July 2023 canola with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: Canola continues its collapse

Limited demand, more farmer selling seen

MarketsFarm — After losing $62 per tonne the week before, the May contract on the ICE Futures canola market extended its losses for the week ended Wednesday with little relief on the horizon. Winnipeg-based trader Jerry Klassen of Resilient Commodity Analysis said the massive selloff is the result of farmers realizing there wouldn’t be a […] Read more



ICE May 2023 canola with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: No floor in sight for overdone canola

'A lot of money playing around in canola right now'

MarketsFarm — The ICE Futures canola market was in freefall mode through the first half of March, hitting its weakest levels in over a year. While the losses may be looking overdone, the bottom remains to be seen. “This has been a brutal drop in canola,” said Bruce Burnett, director of markets and weather with […] Read more

A look at the damage flea beetles can cause to otherwise healthy canola plants.

Tips for flea beetle control

The pros and cons of insecticide seed treatments and in-season foliar sprays, application advice and a concerning trend

On average, more than 22 million acres of canola are planted in Western Canada each spring.  Flea beetles will damage or destroy a significant portion of those cropped acres in any given year. What can farmers do to best protect their crops? The two most common options are treated seed and insecticide sprays. Insecticide seed […] Read more


(Richardson International video screengrab via YouTube)

Canola crush of 2022 smallest in five years

Meanwhile, soybean crush rose on the year

MarketsFarm — Statistics Canada (StatCan) reported that 2022 had the smallest domestic canola crush for a calendar year since 2017. As well, 2022 marked the smallest canola oil production in five years and the least amount of canola meal produced in four years. The sharp reduction of canola being crushed was due to the 2021 […] Read more

(File photo by Dave Bedard)

Confirmation of large canola short position slowly appears

CFTC data flow slowly resuming

MarketsFarm — The size of the fund short position in canola rose in February and likely grew even larger in March, as weekly Commitments of Traders data slowly trickles out from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). CFTC data has stalled since a ‘cyber-related incident’ delayed the release of the data for weeks. As […] Read more


ICE May 2023 canola with 20-day moving average, RSI and CFTC Commitments of Traders data. (Barchart)

Reading between the lines: Oversold canola due for correction

Technical signs point to possible recovery

MarketsFarm — Canola futures posted sharp losses over the past week, with the May contract touching its weakest level in six months. While damage was done from a chart standpoint, there are technical signs that a recovery is possible. RSI The relative strength index (RSI) is a technical indicator that provides insight into whether a […] Read more

The HarvestLab grain sensor can be retrofitted to 2018 and newer John Deere S700 series combines to provide real-time grain quality data when harvesting.

Measure grain protein on the go

John Deere’s HarvestLab offers new features for grain growers

Most grain producers have spent time at an elevator waiting to find out the protein level of a truckload of wheat after delivering it. That, of course, makes a difference to the size of cheque the elevator manager is willing to write. Today, John Deere is taking the suspense out of that wait by making […] Read more