lentils at weyburn

Farmer Panel: Rain in the nick of time

Moisture helps crops get to second base, but not a home run — yet

It may not be the case in all parts of Western Canada, but for producers contacted for the July Farmer’s Panel some much-appreciated rain in the latter part of June saved the bacon of a lot of crops but, as was duly noted, heading into July “it’s not in the bin yet.” Rain may not […] Read more

(ILTAGrain.com via YouTube)

Grain Commission suspends ILTA Grain’s licenses

Farmers owed money for grain delivered to ILTA Grain Inc. should call the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC). The CGC on Thursday suspended the Surrey, B.C.-based company’s grain dealer’s license and its primary grain elevator licenses for elevators at Belle Plaine and Saskatoon, Sask., Remi Gosselin, the CGC’s manager of corporate information services, said in an […] Read more


Localized flooding, strong winds, hail, lack of moisture and grasshoppers have contributed to crop damage in the province this week.

Sask. crops get a weather boost, but still behind in development

Saskatchewan Crop Report for the week ending July 8

Crops across the province are advancing as a result of the warm weather and moisture, although crops are behind or at their normal developmental stages. Sixty-seven per cent of the fall cereals and 32 per cent of the spring cereals are in the heading stage, while 38 per cent of the canola and mustard and […] Read more

(ILTAGrain.com via YouTube)

Pulse exporter ILTA Grain under creditor protection

Corrected, July 11 — MarketsFarm — B.C.- based pulse exporter ILTA Grain, which operates pulse handling and processing facilities in Saskatchewan, has been granted creditor protection by that province’s Supreme Court. “The decision to file for (Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act protection) was made after careful consideration and in our view, is a necessary step for […] Read more


(4loops/iStock/Getty Images)

Pulse weekly outlook: Field pea acreage increasing

MarketsFarm — Last week’s report from Statistics Canada estimated that some acreage in Canada’s canola belt will instead go to field peas in 2019. Approximately 4.3 million total acres will be dedicated to field peas, StatsCan said, marking a 300,000-acre increase from estimates earlier in the year, and up from the 3.6 million acres seeded […] Read more

Rainfall offers relief, improving crop, hay and pasture growth

Saskatchewan Crop Report for the week ending June 24

Many areas in the province received rainfall last week. This precipitation has helped to relieve the extremely dry conditions and recharge soil moisture; however, significant rainfall is still needed in areas of the province to help crops, hay and pasture develop and further recharge soil moisture. The amount of precipitation received in the past week […] Read more


Making sourdough bread

Making sourdough bread

First We Eat: If you have trouble digesting bread try sourdough

Gluten and wheat intolerance has been in my family for decades. My sister Lee gave up eating all wheat-based foods in her early 20s after a childhood and teenage years filled with bellyaches and gastrointestinal distress. Fifteen years ago, I started to experience similar negative reactions to bread. But according to food writer and historian […] Read more

Topsoil moisture improves in Sask., crop conditions range ‘poor to good’

Saskatchewan Crop Report for the week ending June 17

Some of the areas of the province received rain last week; however, many of the areas in desperate need of moisture received little to no rainfall again. The rain will help to relieve dry soil conditions in the areas where it fell, and encourage germination and growth on cropland, hay land, and pasture. The amount […] Read more


(4loops/iStock/Getty Images)

Pulse weekly outlook: India’s drought could be field pea opportunity

MarketsFarm — Though India has curbed its pulse crop imports from Canada in recent years due to disagreements over crop control and fumigation, a challenging growing season in India could make Canadian pulses more attractive. Drought-like conditions in key growing areas of India have killed dozens of people and endangered crops. According to Reuters, key […] Read more

Francis Poulsen, centre, with steer donated to raise funds for Manitoba Cancer Care.

Hart Attacks: Long-time reader shares many good ideas

Now-retired mixed farmer is a man of many talents

It was great to receive a letter from retired Manitoba farmer, Francis Poulsen, that described some of the problem-solving “fixes” he applied to equipment and the land during more than 50 years of farming near Elm Creek, 50 km west of Winnipeg and about 35 km southeast of Portage la Prairie. Now retired for about […] Read more