Cereals & Production Tips

Typically, wheat stem sawfly  tends to flourish in dry weather.

Parasitoids help control sawfly

Researchers are evaluating the value of wheat stem sawfly’s natural predators

By Melanie Epp March 9, 2018

Wheat stem sawfly can cause major yield losses. Scientists are investigating parasitoids, small wasps and nematodes, as well as fungi that can be used to control the pest. Héctor Cárcamo, research scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has been conducting research on beneficial insects that attack wheat stem sawfly larvae. Sawfly, said Cárcamo, has a […] Read more

DDGS in storage in Iowa. (Steven Vaughn photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Cereals, Crops, Markets

Feed weekly outlook: Canada importing more U.S. DDGS

By GFM Network News March 8, 2018

CNS Canada — A better-quality Canadian grain crop in 2017 has opened the door to increased imports of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) from the U.S., as Canadian livestock feeders look for other options. Canada imported about 700,000 tonnes of the ethanol byproduct from the U.S. in 2017, the largest imports since 2011 and […] Read more

Crops, Reuters, Spring Wheat

Smucker seen considering sale for Robin Hood, other baking brands

By Reuters, GFM Network News March 8, 2018

Reuters — J.M. Smucker is considering a sale of its baking brands, including Pillsbury and Robin Hood, Bloomberg reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. The unit could fetch as much as US$700 million (C$902.4 million), Bloomberg reported, citing one of the sources. A final decision to pursue a sale has not been […] Read more

Barley, Crops

Sleeman investing to bring back production from U.S.

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News March 6, 2018

Canada’s third-biggest national brewer plans upgrades at its southwestern Ontario plant, with which it plans to bring back some production it now contracts out to a U.S. brewery. Guelph-based Sleeman Breweries, owned since 2006 by Japanese brewer Sapporo, announced Monday it will invest $6.61 million to expand packaging capability, put up new beer tanks and […] Read more

Barley, Cereals, Corn, Crops, Markets, Spring Wheat

Feed weekly outlook: Prairie feed grain prices on rise

By GFM Network News March 1, 2018

CNS Canada — Prices are rising for feed grains in Lethbridge, with buyers starting to consider their options. “Seems every day this last week we’re surprised at higher offers being triggered than the day before,” said Jared Seitz, trade manager with Agfinity Inc. In Lethbridge, feed barley bids last week were at $5 per bushel […] Read more

Cereals, Crops, Features

No short-term fix for fusarium heard at Durum Summit

Farmers looking for fusarium-resistant durum seed will have to keep on waiting

By Leeann Minogue February 27, 2018

When farmers packed a meeting hall in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, for the 2018 Durum Summit, they were hoping to find a solution to their fusarium problems. Unfortunately, there’s nothing new on the horizon for the next few years. Curtis Pozniak, a wheat breeder and geneticist at the Crop Development Centre in Saskatoon, says they are […] Read more

Creating an even crop is part of the fusarium management  strategy for CropPro Consulting’s clients.

Cereals, Crops, Features

Managing fusarium head blight

As the fusarium-infected area grows,  so does the sophistication of management tools

By Lisa Guenther February 27, 2018

As fusarium head blight marches west, agronomists and farmers are finding more sophisticated ways to manage the disease. Cory Willness, agrologist and president of CropPro Consulting, says evening out crops is part of their fusarium management strategy. CropPro Consulting is based in Naicam, northeast of Humboldt, Saskatchewan. “We find traditionally that the tops of the […] Read more

Barley, Corn, Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Feeder cattle markets absorbing price uncertainty

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News February 27, 2018

Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were quite variable throughout the week due to the uncertain price structure in the deferred position. Yearling prices differentiated by nearly $15 across the Prairies while lighter calves were relatively unchanged from week-ago levels. Adverse weather throughout January and February has tempered demand for replacement cattle. Southern Alberta has received […] Read more

(File photo courtesy Canola Council of Canada)

Canola, Crops, Markets, Spring Wheat

Canola exports slow down in latest weekly report

By GFM Network News February 23, 2018

CNS Canada — Weekly Canadian canola exports were down during the week ended Sunday, hitting their lowest level since September 2017, according to the latest Canadian Grain Commission data. Canada exported only 129,000 tonnes of canola during the latest reporting period, which compares with the previous five-week average of 194,800 tonnes. Total canola exports during […] Read more

Cereals, Corn, Crops, Livestock, Markets

Feed weekly outlook: Prairie feed grains following corn’s lead

By GFM Network News February 22, 2018

CNS Canada — A lack of available barley and steady rise in feed corn prices has pushed the market higher in southern Alberta. According to Jim Beusekom of Market Place Commodities at Lethbridge, barley prices have risen from $220 per tonne, since the start of February, to the current price of $230 per tonne. “The […] Read more

Daily Network News

Southern California honeybees show resistance to varroa mites

Pulse Weekly: SaskPulse optimistic despite input, crop price concerns

Canadian aquaculture should be classed as agriculture, industry groups say

Cereals