The global stocks-to-use ratio for the major crops, excluding China, has been trending down since 2018, Jason Newton, Nutrien’s chief economist, told delegates attending the 24th International Farm Management Association Congress in Saskatoon.
Fertilizer
Global crop yields have not kept up with increasing demand
Sluggish production blamed on adverse weather conditions and high input costs that lead to reduced fertilizer use
In Brief: Agco CEO sees good global demand for new equipment
In a webcast earnings report at the beginning of May, Agco CEO Eric Hansotia said the company has seen its net profits fall during the first quarter of 2024. Slower sales are a trend all brands have said they expect to see in 2024. “We focused on reducing production more than the industry decline and […] Read more
Peatland farming, the Prairies’ best-kept secret
Practical Research: Improving these lands' copper fertility could potentially pay significant dividends
In 1981, I heard a discussion on micronutrients in crop production by the late Jerry Stoller. He talked about the need to pay attention to the micronutrient needs of crops, because just like macronutrients — nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur — they can be depleted over time on even the best cropland. Stoller also said […] Read more
Prairie soil scientist and author Les Henry, 83
Henry's outreach to farmers spanned more than half a century
Glacier FarmMedia — Saskatchewan soil scientist Les Henry, well known for his work on improving Prairie farmland and his outreach to Prairie farmers in the pages of Grainews, has died. Ending a long fight with congestive heart failure, Henry died Friday in Saskatoon at age 83, having continued to write until very shortly before his […] Read more
Soil scientist and Grainews columnist Les Henry, 1940-2024
Henry's outreach to farmers spanned more than half a century
Saskatchewan soil scientist Les Henry, well known for his work on improving Prairie farmland and his outreach to Prairie farmers in the pages of Grainews, has died. Ending a long fight with congestive heart failure, Henry died Friday in Saskatoon at age 83, having continued to write until very shortly before his passing. Born in […] Read more
Prairie soils’ organic carbon climbing
Data from StatCan and AAFC highlight positive changes made in agriculture since the 1980s
Glacier FarmMedia — For much of the last five years, the federal government has been setting targets for Canadian farmers to reduce nitrous oxide emissions from fertilizer and methane emissions from cattle. The government has provided funding to help producers cut methane and nitrous oxide emissions from primary agriculture, while constantly beating the drumbeat of […] Read more
Nutrien moves on from Louisiana ammonia project amid cost cuts
Reuters – Nutrien NTR.TO on Wednesday said it was no longer pursuing its clean ammonia project in Louisiana and would also be reviewing strategic options for its stake in an Argentinian fertilizer company as it looks to rein in expenses. The top potash producer had halted work indefinitely on its clean ammonia project at Geismar, […] Read more
Zero till: how did it all happen?
Soils & Crops: In Saskatchewan, necessity was the mother of more than one invention
In March 1993 in Grainews there appeared a piece by a certain soils columnist titled “A Quiet Revolution in Crop Production.” It concluded that within the next two decades we’d see a revolution in the way we farmed. It came to pass much as predicted — but what made it happen was work in farm […] Read more
Realized Canadian farm income up, net income down in 2023
Total farm cash receipts rose 4.4 per cent compared with 2022 on higher crop marketings; cattle prices
Realized net income for Canadian farmers rose 18.3 per cent in 2023 to C$14.5 billion, as growth in receipts offset a rise in expenses, according to a report from Statistics Canada released May 29.
Feeding dry fields
Prairie farmers find more than one way to optimize fertilizer efficiency, whether in dry growing seasons or in any growing season
Farmers and crop consultants in Western Canada have slightly different approaches to manage weather-related fertilizer application risks. With variable moisture, do you apply the full amount at seeding and hope for rain — or find another way? Most producers contacted by Grainews opt for some version of split fertilizer application when facing dry growing conditions […] Read more