A view of a crop rotation treatment tested in Melfort, Sask., in July 2022 as part of the Resilient Rotations crop rotations project. Melfort is part of the project’s northern Prairies region.

A new approach provides evidence to support the benefits of diversified rotations

A five-year study provides science-based, region-specific information on cropping systems

A new study being conducted in Western Canada could soon provide growers with valuable insights on how to achieve more productive, sustainable and resilient cropping systems. Resilient Rotations is a comprehensive research project that aims to develop a new approach to crop rotations. The five-year study is being managed as part of the Integrated Crop […] Read more



(Dave Bedard photo)

Fund traders back on the long side in canola

Net long also extended in CBOT corn, soy

MarketsFarm — Speculators in ICE canola moved back to a net long position in the futures to start the New Year, according to the latest Commitment of Traders (CoT) report from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The net managed money long position in ICE Futures canola came in at 6,805 contracts on Jan. […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

SaskCanola, SaskFlax merge offices, management

Groups will maintain separate governing boards, levies

Sasskatchewan’s canola and flax development commissions are consolidating their management, staff and office space under one roof. SaskCanola and SaskFlax said Wednesday their new “management collaboration” will translate to efficiencies for both commissions with “a full staff complement to support both boards.” Both organizations will now operate out of the current SaskCanola office at Innovation […] Read more


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

ICE weekly outlook: Sideways canola market watching macros

USDA report may offer nearby direction

MarketsFarm — ICE Futures canola contracts remain stuck in a sideways trading range to start the New Year, with bearish outside forces countered by relatively supportive fundamentals. From a chart standpoint, March canola is stuck in a sideways range between $800 and $900, with little to suggest a break one way or the other for […] Read more

While there is a lot of interest in camelina production for the biofuel industry, processors have shown it is not a one-trick oilseed.

Camelina poised for a comeback

Demand from the renewable fuel industry is one of many reasons to grow camelina this year and in the future

As western Canadian farmers consider cropping plans for 2023, they may want to give some thought to growing camelina. It is a crop name from the past that is making a comeback and by all accounts there is strong market demand. Camelina was somewhat of a flash in the pan 15 or more years ago, […] Read more


Figure 1. Nitrous oxide emissions from nitrogen fertilizer in 2018 from the agricultural areas of Canada.

Nitrogen fertilizer management to reduce nitrous oxide emissions, Part 1

4R nutrient stewardship practices could be the only answer needed to reduce emissions

In December 2020, the government of Canada announced a national target to reduce absolute levels of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from fertilizer application by 30 per cent below 2020 levels by 2030. What does this mean for western Canadian farmers? It does not mean a 30 per cent reduction in nitrogen fertilizer use! But it […] Read more

ICE March 2023 canola with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: Markets rangebound into the New Year

ICE canola plays catch-up on CBOT gains

MarketsFarm — As 2022 comes to an end, a trader stated the commodities market will very likely remain rangebound through the New Year. Ken Ball, of PI Financial in Winnipeg, said there’s heavy spreading, as well as the maneuvering of year-end positions and plenty of liquidation going on at the moment, “all trapped in a […] Read more