CBOT May 2021 soybeans with 20- and 50-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soy, corn limit-up on planting intentions

USDA acreage data provides lift; wheat also higher

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybean and corn futures surged by their daily trading limits on Wednesday after the U.S. Agriculture Department released smaller-than-expected U.S. planting intentions. Wheat followed higher, despite USDA’s higher-than-expected quarterly grain stocks. The most-active soybean futures contract on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) added 70 cents to $14.36-3/4 per bushel, […] Read more


Figuring out all the angles on rotation can be a complex challenge for farmers.

Rotation, rotation, rotation are a farmer’s best friend in the field

Not rotating crops and chemistries might just be the opportunity crop pests were waiting for

[UPDATED: April 1, 2021] Rotation isn’t a new word, but applying it to all aspects of annual crop production might be a newer concept for western Canadian farmers looking to keep a step ahead of various crop pests, say specialists with Corteva Agriscience. A proper crop rotation, a proper variety rotation, a proper herbicide rotation, […] Read more

CBOT November 2021 soybeans with 20-, 40- and 50-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soy, corn, wheat futures slide ahead of USDA data

Planting intentions, stocks reports due Wednesday

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soy and corn futures fell on Tuesday as traders liquidated positions and booked profits a day ahead of a pair of key crop reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, analysts said. Wheat also declined, with a firmer dollar hanging over the market along with spillover from broad weakness in […] Read more


Pea root rot moves into new cropland about the same way as clubroot. Follow the clubroot protocol.

The looming Prairie-wide pea crop disaster

Follow the clubroot protocol to ensure your future as a pea grower

When I first became involved in checking out pea diseases in Alberta in 1974, pea crops were few and far between. Pea growing was somewhat of a disaster. The pea variety generally grown was called Trapper. This was a tall, six-foot vine that lodged as soon as pod-filling took place. The mass of lodged leaves […] Read more

Taking the soil microbiome to lunch

Taking the soil microbiome to lunch

Research is just starting to reveal life below the soil surface

Any farmer who has ever asked questions about whether the wide range of crop biological products are necessary and really work to benefit the soil or serve to improve crop yield and quality need to keep asking questions. It is not that the marketplace is full of suspect product claims — the biological industry has […] Read more


CBOT May 2021 corn with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn falls one per cent, soy drifts lower

May wheat ends up off nine-week low

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures fell about one per cent on Monday on position squaring ahead of crop reports due this week from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) along with forecasts for generally favourable planting weather in the Midwest, analysts said. Soybean futures also declined while wheat closed higher, rallying on bargain […] Read more

The Seed Terminator attaches to the combine and pulverizes weed seeds before they become weeds. To see the unit in action on Lade's farm, visit 
https://youtu.be/O1Tg4UvM_lE.

Is mechanical harvest weed seed control a good option for the Prairies?

Saskatchewan farmers discuss the benefits and ROI of weed seed-destroying equipment

Saskatchewan farmer Josh Lade is starting to reap the rewards of using a harvest weed seed smasher on his farm. With his wife, Jeannie, and partners John, Janice, Rayden and Jenn Wiebe, Lade grows cereals, pulse crops and oilseeds on about 16,000 acres near Osler, Sask. In total, the Lades and the Wiebes have imported […] Read more



CBOT May 2021 soybeans with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybeans follow veg oils lower

Corn, wheat gain after selloff

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybean futures slid on Friday, pressured by declines in soyoil and funds squaring positions ahead of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s grain stocks and planting intentions reports due March 31, traders said. Corn and wheat rebounded from prior day losses, but failed to end the week higher. The most-active soybean […] Read more