(File photo by Lorraine Stevenson)

Elevator declarations changing Aug. 1

CGC says the move won't harm Canada's grain quality assurance system

The declarations of eligibility western Canadian farmers sign before delivering to elevators, effective Aug. 1, will no longer include crops that don’t require end-use quality assessment as part of the variety registration process. “It’s not a big change,” Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) spokesman Remi Gosselin said in an interview Thursday. Wade Sobkowich, executive director of […] Read more

If your desire is to reduce costs heading into an uncertain spring season, seed treatment may be one of the first agronomic tools to be removed from your crop plan. However, seed treatment is an important investment for your farm, regardless of growing or economic conditions.

Why seed treatment is important this year

Q & A with an expert

Q: Why should I keep a seed treatment in my crop plan? A: Amid severe drought in parts of the Prairies and the desire to reduce costs heading into an uncertain spring season, seed treatment may be one of the first agronomic tools to be removed from your crop plan. However, seed treatment is an […] Read more


File photo of lentils being moved into bins in Saskatchewan. (Bobloblaw/iStock/Getty Images)

Pulse weekly outlook: Lentil acres likely up in 2022

Other pulses likely down, though

MarketsFarm — Statistics Canada released its first survey-based crop acreage estimates of 2022 on Tuesday, reporting that while more lentil acres may be planted this spring, other pulses are expected to have their seeded area shrink. The national data agency projected 4.49 million acres of lentils will be planted in Canada this year, a 4.2 […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Drought fears, fertilizer may affect Canadian acreage estimates

MarketsFarm — Traders and analysts awaiting Statistics Canada’s first survey-based acreage report for the 2022-23 crop year on Tuesday believe competition amongst crops — as well as their dependence on fertilizer, and the possibility of another drought this summer — will be determining factors. Canola stands as the best representation of traders’ concerns. Despite reaching […] Read more


It is a heartbreaking situation to put money and effort into establishing high-value pulse crops only to have them wiped out by disease. There are several root rot diseases that can seriously affect pea and lentil (as seen here) crop yields, but aphanomyces is the worst of the bunch.

No easy fix for pulse crop problems

A Saskatchewan pulse producer weighs his options and risks for planting lentils in fields previously hit hard by aphanomyces — plus, the latest research and recommendations on root rot management in pulses

Shaun Dyrland says even in a dry growing season, if there is a thunderstorm that drops about an inch of rain some of the lentil fields on his west-central Saskatchewan farm will be dead within a matter of days. That’s just an indication of the effect root rot disease — particularly aphanomyces — can have […] Read more

(iStock/Getty Images)

Pulse weekly outlook: No worries about delayed planting in Manitoba

'Farmers can get stuff in pretty quick'

MarketsFarm — Despite an influx of snow across southern Manitoba, with more precipitation in the forecast for this week, a provincial pulse specialist isn’t too concerned about the potential for late planting of pulse crops. “The moisture is welcome, but it’s not the weather we would like to see at this time of the year. […] Read more





Variety trial comparisons have shown the new Fabelle faba bean outyields the long-standing Snowbird faba bean anywhere from six to 13 per cent, depending on the location. The crop has an excellent fit in rotation with other pulse crops and for extending the canola rotation. And with improved nutritional features, Fabelle can work well as a human food and livestock feed protein source.

New faba bean variety may be the key

Improved nutritional properties well suited to plant protein market

[UPDATED: April 12, 2022] Terry Youzwa hasn’t grown faba beans for a couple of years, but he can see a time in the near future where the crop will be back in rotation with a good fit as one of the pulse crops regularly grown on his northeast Saskatchewan farm.   Youzwa, who farms with his […] Read more

AAFC’s Drought Monitor map for the period ending March 31, 2022. (Agriculture.canada.ca)

Drought severity easing across much of Prairies, AAFC reports

MarketsFarm — Drought conditions persisted across much of the Prairies during the month of March, although the extent and severity of the dryness was reduced in many areas, according to the latest Drought Monitor report from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). “While there have been substantial improvements to drought conditions across Western Canada since last […] Read more