Depending on drill calibration and speed of travel at seeding, it could easily result in a wide variance of seed placement.

Industry ponders ideal canola seeding depth

One of several factors affecting success of stand establishment

Coming up with an ideal recommended canola seeding depth is a bit like the Goldilocks story where the bowls of porridge ranged from either too hot or too cold. When it comes to seeding canola, the ideal recommendation can’t be too shallow or too deep, but what is the just-right depth recommendation — most likely […] Read more

Farm groups offer finance committee food security for thought

The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) continues to pressure the federal government to offer more support for farmers as it looks to mitigate impacts of COVID-19. One of few parliamentary functions continuing to operate in the pandemic, the Commons standing committee on finance is responsible for studying and reporting on matters related to government spending. […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

Tighter canola stocks, more wheat in updated ag department tables

MarketsFarm — Updated supply/demand tables released by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada on Wednesday include only minor adjustments to stocks and usage numbers, with slightly tighter canola ending stocks and a small increase in wheat supplies. Canola ending stocks for 2020-21 are forecast at 2.7 million tonnes in the updated tables. That would be down from […] Read more

CBOT July 2020 soybeans with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Export hopes push soy, corn, wheat futures higher

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean, corn and wheat futures rose on Thursday as recent declines spurred demand for imports of all three commodities, traders said. Bargain-buying and short-covering contributed to the bullish tone following a sharp sell-off across the commodities market as the coronavirus pandemic roiled demand. “None of the major commodities have a […] Read more


ICE Futures May 2020 canola (candlesticks) and CBOT May 2020 soybean oil (yellow line). (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: Canola gains strength at midweek

MarketsFarm — After showing considerable weakness in prior trading sessions, canola contracts tried to regain some ground at midweek. Ken Ball of P.I. Financial in Winnipeg said canola was oversold due to bearish sentiments from outside markets earlier in the week, but prices were steadily bouncing back. Nearby ICE Futures canola was down Monday by […] Read more

CBOT July 2020 corn with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn gains on short-covering

Soy firms on export deal

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures rose 2.4 per cent on Wednesday as traders unwound bearish bets following the market’s decline to its lowest since September 2009 on Tuesday, traders said. “Corn got down to the lowest prices yesterday we have seen in many years, and we have a short-covering bounce,” said Greg Grow, […] Read more


Pre-seed weed control is important this spring

Pre-seed weed control is important this spring

Weed control will be a different challenge this year. With little fall weed control and good moisture, fields will have an abundance of overwintered annuals, such as cleavers, flixweed, narrow-leaved hawk’s beard and volunteer canola, alongside spring emergence of other annual and perennial weeds. These overwintered annuals are a particular challenge as they are often […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Bunge to sell 35 U.S. elevators to Zen-Noh Grain

Chicago | Reuters — Agricultural commodities trader Bunge said on Tuesday it will sell 35 of its interior U.S. grain elevators to Zen-Noh Grain, dramatically reducing its grain origination network in the United States. Financial details of the sale with the subsidiary of Japan’s Zen-Noh Group were not disclosed, and the deal is subject to […] Read more


Fresh bread in Egypt. (Goldream/iStock/Getty Images)

G20 ag ministers say COVID-19 measures shouldn’t disrupt food supply

Dubai | Reuters — Agriculture and food ministers from the Group of 20 (G20) countries agreed at a virtual meeting on Tuesday that emergency measures to stop the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus must not upend global food supply chains. Their extraordinary meeting came as coronavirus lockdowns across the world slow global food supply chains, […] Read more

CBOT May 2020 corn (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages, and NYMEX May 2020 WTI crude oil (purple line). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn hits lowest since September 2009

Soybeans firm on bargain buying; wheat mixed

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures fell 1.4 per cent on Tuesday to a fresh 10-1/2-year low as crumbling demand for fuel due to the global coronavirus pandemic threatened the ethanol sector. “They are taking their cue from energy,” said Mark Schultz, chief market analyst at Northstar Commodity. “It is a pretty tough business […] Read more