Canola & Production Tips

A canola field starting to bloom at the end of June near Fairholme, Sask. Barb Ziesman, provincial specialist in plant disease, says the environment was perfect for disease development across Saskatchewan in 2016.

Farmers frustrated by sclerotinia

Sclerotinia was rampant in 2016,  sometimes even for farmers  who sprayed fungicide

By Lisa Guenther February 16, 2017

If you had a tough time with sclerotinia in your canola crop this past year, you’re not alone. “It is still probably one of the most frustrating diseases that producers deal with,” says Barb Ziesman, provincial specialist in plant disease with Saskatchewan Agriculture. The environment was perfect for disease development across Saskatchewan, says Ziesman. Saskatchewan Agriculture’s annual canola […] Read more

Canola, Crops, Markets

ICE weekly outlook: Canola runs into headwind

By GFM Network News February 15, 2017

CNS Canada — ICE Futures Canada canola contracts are running into major upside resistance from a chart standpoint, with a turn lower more likely than additional gains in the near term. “The demand component for canola remains quite strong, although domestic crush margins have diminished,” said Mike Jubinville of ProFarmer Canada. Soyoil futures at the […] Read more

A high clearance sprayer on a field in a prairie landscape

Canola, Crops, Features

Spraying your fungicide in “the zone”

With Bayer’s new “Zone Spray,” farmers can skip the fungicide in some parts of the field

By Lisa Guenther February 15, 2017

If Warren Bills has his way, farmers will have a better way to forecast sclerotinia than the old wet boots and weather test. “We believe there is a better way to manage the risk of that disease and the returns growers get when they spray,” Bills told agronomists and industry at Bayer’s Ag Summit in […] Read more

March 2017 canola futures up to Feb. 8, 2017, including 20-day moving average in red. (Barchart.com)

Canola, Crops, Markets

ICE weekly outlook: Canola holds firm before USDA report

By GFM Network News February 8, 2017

CNS Canada — ICE Futures Canada canola contracts made steady gains during the week ended Wednesday, as traders positioned themselves ahead of Thursday’s release of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s next supply and demand report. “We’ve had a bit of a run over the past week and a bit; we popped off some oversold levels,” […] Read more

Canola, Cereals, Columns

Imports and exports by the numbers

Russia is rising and South American beans are finding easier pathways to the ports

By Brian Wittal February 8, 2017

Changes to grain handling and transportation infrastructure in two key regions of the world will impact Canada’s competitiveness. These areas are the Black Sea region and South America. Russia’s overall grain production (wheat, barley and corn) has grown 70 per cent in the last 10 years to 94.5 million tonnes. Exports have had their ups […] Read more

Flea beetle damage on a canola seedling.

Canola, Crops

Keep your canola standing strong against flea beetles

Agronomy tips... from the field

By Ted Labun February 8, 2017

When coming up with a flea beetle defence strategy, it’s important to remember that flea beetles overwinter in your field as adults. That means they’re right there, just waiting to feed as soon as your canola crop emerges in the spring. Canola seedlings can compensate for flea beetle feeding and recover — just so long […] Read more

Canola, Cereals, News

Grain transportation mostly smooth in January

CN hopper car demand up, while CP car demand down from previous year

By Lisa Guenther February 6, 2017

Grain movement has been relatively smooth for much of January, according to the latest numbers from the Ag Transport Coalition. Canadian National (CN) has supplied over 90 per cent of hopper cars order between January 8th and 21st, according the Coalition’s reports for grain weeks 24 and 25. Canadian Pacific (CP) filled 73 per cent […] Read more

Canola, Cereals, Crops

Eight things to look for in your soil test report

By Ross H. McKenzie February 6, 2017

When you understand your soil reports, you’re in a better position to develop fertilizer plans with your agronomist. All soil testing labs report the same basic information, but each lab has its own unique format. No matter what your report looks like, first, check the information at the top: your name, address, field name, etc. […] Read more

Blackleg was found in more than half of fields surveyed in Saskatchewan, however, where it was found, on average, only 12 per cent of the surveyed plants were infected.

Canola, Crops, Features

Saskatchewan canola disease survey

Field surveyors found sclerotinia in almost all Saskatchewan fields in 2016

By Leeann Minogue February 3, 2017

The incidence of sclerotinia stem rot in Saskatchewan oilseed crops was up in 2016, said Matthew Bernard, Saskatchewan provincial oilseed crops specialist. Bernard presented the results of the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture’s 2016 canola disease survey at Oilseed Producer Meetings around the province in mid-November. In Weyburn, Bernard told oilseed growers, “there were 224 canola […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canola Council of Canada)

Canola, Cereals, Crops, Markets

StatsCan canola stocks in line with expectations

By GFM Network News February 3, 2017

CNS Canada –– Canadian canola stocks may be tighter than a year ago and wheat stocks larger — but the updated numbers from Statistics Canada may also need more asterisks than normal. StatsCan, in a report released Friday, pegged Canadian canola supplies as of Dec. 31 at 12.159 million tonnes, down from 13.452 million at […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soybeans, corn fall on harvest pressure

U.S. livestock: Hog futures slide in technical correction

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: Acknowledging the past, seeking a better future

GFM Network News