Cereals & Production Tips

Wheat seeds spilling from hand, close-up

Summer fun in volatile grain markets

With markets making moves, it’s a good time to understand “basis only” contracts

By Brian Wittal September 8, 2017

Activity in both the grain futures markets and the old crop and new crop deferred delivery markets has been dynamic in recent months. Weather worries sparked futures markets dramatically higher in a short time. As the hot weather dragged on, buyers became eager to get their hands on old crop stocks, in case the new […] Read more

Jitendra Paliwal (left) adjusts the antennae on the 3D electromagnetic imaging system at the U of M’s grain storage research laboratory while Paul Card (right) watches.

Canola, Cereals, Crops, Pulses

Detecting grain spoilage in the bin before it starts

An adaptation of cancer-screening technology offers a better and safer way to check for grain bin moisture, with a bonus of theft detection

By Ron Friesen August 23, 2017

An electromagnetic imaging technique originally designed to detect breast cancer tumours is now being adapted for a totally different use — locating spoiled grain in bins. The research project at the University of Manitoba uses electromagnetic imaging (EMI) to create a 3D profile of a bin, showing pockets of moisture which can overheat and spoil. […] Read more

Crops, Spring Wheat, Winter Wheat

Prairie wheat commissions to collaborate on research funding

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News August 22, 2017

The Prairie provinces’ three wheat commissions are set to take a team approach to research funding through a new not-for-profit body. The Alberta Wheat Commission, Sask Wheat and the Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association on Tuesday announced the formation of the Canadian Wheat Research Coalition (CWRC) to “facilitate long-term investments aimed at improving profitability […] Read more

Corn, Crops, Reuters, Spring Wheat

U.S. seeks WTO dispute panel on China’s grain import quotas

By Reuters, GFM Network News August 21, 2017

Geneva | Reuters — The United States has requested a World Trade Organization panel be set up to investigate Chinese tariff-rate quotas (TRQ) for agricultural products, the WTO said on Monday, setting up a showdown between the two largest economies. The row, which includes tariffs for wheat, rice, and corn, was initiated under the Obama […] Read more

Because the wheat crop had a thin stand, there was high weed pressure.  Plant density was 180 to 190 plants per square metre. Ungerminated seed seemed to be the heart of the problem.

Cereals, Crops, Features

Crop Advisor’s Casebook: Thin plant stand in this wheat field

A Crop Advisor's Solution from the June 6, 2017 issue of Grainews

By Dan Friesen August 18, 2017

John, a Manitoba producer, asked me for a recommendation on an in-crop herbicide that would best suit the needs of his wheat crop. It was the end of May when I made my way out to John’s 3,000-acre farm near Starbuck, Man. I wanted to scout his field before advising him on crop inputs. When […] Read more

BASF’s promotions for pre-harvest use of Heat LQ have until now focused strictly on crops such as soybeans, peas, canola, dry beans and sunflowers. (Agro.basf.ca)

Cereals, Crops

Heat LQ cleared for pre-harvest use in wheat, barley

By Leeann Minogue, GFM Network News August 17, 2017

Wheat, durum and barley growers have a new pre-harvest herbicide option now that BASF has received Codex maximum residue limits (MRLs) for its product Heat LQ. While “there were probably some wheat acres already harvested,” according to Dan Packer, BASF’s cereals crop manager, this agreement will provide an additional pre-harvest option for farmers who still […] Read more

Cereals, Crops, Markets

Canadian wheat bids decline with U.S. futures, but basis improves

By GFM Network News August 4, 2017

CNS Canada – Hard red spring wheat bids in Western Canada moved lower during the week ended August 3, as declines in the US futures weighed on prices. However, weakness in the Canadian dollar provided support and helped basis levels see some modest improvement. Depending on the location, average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat […] Read more

Some of the barley plants had white heads. Also, the kernels of the affected plants didn’t fill. When pulled, these heads separated easily from the stem. The affected plants were distributed randomly throughout the field.

Barley, Crops, Features

Crop Advisor’s Casebook: A big barley bother

A Crop Advisor's Solution from the April 25, 2017 issue of Grainews

By Kathy-Jo Toews August 3, 2017

While assessing his crop for damage after a storm last year, Ian, a Manitoba producer, noticed some barley plants had white heads. Also, the kernels of the affected plants didn’t fill. Ian, who farms 1,500 acres of wheat, barley and canola near Oak Lake, Man., wasn’t sure if the storm had damaged the barley plants, […] Read more

Cereals, Crops, Weather

Argentine wheat seedings slowed by rain

By MarketsFarm Team, GFM Network News August 3, 2017

CNS Canada – Argentina’s hope for a near-record wheat crop have been dampened by excessive rain and below-average seedings. With planting nearly complete, the United States Department of Agriculture office in Buenos Aires has estimated the Argentine wheat crop at 12.8 million acres. That falls about one million acres below the official USDA forecast of […] Read more

Cereals, Markets

Asian taste for western diet boosts Australian wheat

By MarketsFarm Team, GFM Network News August 3, 2017

CNS Canada – Vietnam has quietly grown to become Australia’s second largest export destination for wheat. Driving the demand is the iconic banh mi, a Vietnamese baguette-style sandwich filled with pork or chicken and spices. Vietnam imports 1.5 million tonnes of Australian wheat, based on 2016 figures, compared to 380,000 tonnes 10 years ago, said […] Read more

GFM Network News

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures mixed

Most of Manitoba harvest wraps up for 2025

U.S. grains: Soybean, corn futures hit one-month highs as crude oil soars

Cereals