Cereals & Production Tips

The plants looked healthy. The crop was completely headed out and around the milky stage, with no signs of disease or abnormal growth on the plants’ leaves, stems or heads. What was attracting the beetles?

Crop Advisor’s Casebook: The secret of the swooping birds

A Crop Advisor's Solution from the April 11, 2017 issue of Grainews

By Charisse Garland June 30, 2017

Last July, Henry, a Saskatchewan farmer, watched as a throng of birds swooped in and out of his durum wheat field. When he scouted the field, he also found some “black bugs,” which prompted him to give me a call. “You need to look at my durum,” he said. “Birds are swooping, so there must […] Read more

Cereals, Crops, Features

Wheat midge 101: the basics of scouting

Growing soft white wheat or a non-midge-tolerant variety? Get ready to scout

By Julienne Isaacs June 29, 2017

It’s smaller than a mosquito, but more of a headache for Prairie farmers — wheat midge might look innocuous, but it can cause significant crop damage in Western Canada. Since midge-tolerant spring wheat varieties have become widely available, midge scouting has become a thing of the past for many Prairie farmers. However, with only one […] Read more

Crops, Markets, Oats

Confidence seen in oat sector with Richardson deal

By GFM Network News June 29, 2017

CNS Canada –– Richardson International’s decision to buy British-based European Oat Millers is seen as a strong sign of confidence in the oats sector, even if it has little effect on Prairie farmers. “I think it’s very positive. We’re seeing lots of activity in the oats industry,” Art Enns, president of the Prairie Oat Growers […] Read more

Crops, Markets, Pasture, Reuters, Spring Wheat, Weather

U.S. Plains drought highlights spring wheat supply crunch

By GFM Network News June 29, 2017

Chicago | Reuters — Drought conditions in the northern U.S. Plains that have propelled spring wheat prices to a three-year high worsened in the past week and there are forecasts for more hot and dry weather that could crimp the harvest. As the world struggles with a glut of grain that has filled inventories to […] Read more

Crops, Oats, Reuters

Canada’s Richardson buys European Oat Millers

By Rod Nickel, GFM Network News June 26, 2017

Winnipeg | Reuters –– Richardson International, one of Canada’s largest grain handlers, said Monday it had purchased European Oat Millers in a deal that expands its geographic reach. The acquisition of European Oat Millers, the second-largest oat miller in Europe, closed on June 15, Richardson said in a statement. Both companies are privately owned. Winnipeg-based […] Read more

Poorly-treated wheat seed, inoculated with f. graminearum. Photo: Lisa Guenther

Cereals, Crops

Know how to identify these three seedling diseases

By Lisa Guenther June 23, 2017

Seedling diseases can weaken cereals, leaving plants susceptible to other stresses, Brittney Kroeker told attendees at Bayer’s SeedGrowth Solutions Expo in Saskatoon this spring. Kroeker went through some of the top seedling diseases in cereals. Here are her tips for identifying three seedling disease in cereals.

Sunset in Egypt on the Nile River south of Luxor. (CIA.gov)

Crops, Markets, Reuters, Spring Wheat

Egypt court ruling revives row over ergot in wheat

By GFM Network News June 22, 2017

Cairo | Reuters — A court that ordered the suspension of Egypt’s food inspection system based its ruling in part on the quarantine service’s right to ban grain imports with any trace of the ergot fungus, raising the possibility the contested rule could be restored. The government’s new food inspection system simplified trade after a […] Read more

Cereals, Crops, Pulses

Three more crop diseases to watch for in 2017

By Jennifer Blair June 21, 2017

Our three experts have pinpointed fusarium head blight as the No. 1 disease to watch out for this year — but keep an eye on these ones, too.

Barley, Crops, Markets

Strong demand keeps Prairie feed barley well supported

By GFM Network News June 15, 2017

CNS Canada — Feed barley bids remain well supported in Western Canada, as solid demand and reluctant farmer selling keep the market underpinned heading into the summer months. “There is pretty decent demand. I’d say higher than average for this time of year,” said Brandon Motz, sales manager with CorNine Commodities in Lacombe, Alta. Strong […] Read more

After Don sprayed his durum, the crop seems to be  set back and yellowing in patches.

Cereals, Crops, Features

Crop Advisor’s Casebook: Dealing with damaged durum

A Crop Advisor's Solution from the March 14, 2017 issue of Grainews

By Bethany Wyatt June 13, 2017

Don’s 3,000-acre mixed farm can be found south of Weyburn, Sask., near the U.S. border. He called me last June after he discovered patches of yellowing durum wheat plants in his field. Don had sprayed the crop at the three-leaf stage with a tank mix of Groups 1, 2 and 4 herbicides to control grasses […] Read more

GFM Network News

Trump quadrupling Argentina beef tariff rate quota to 80,000 tonnes

ICE Weekly: No upside for canola if China situation continues: trader

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures drop on Trump call for lower prices

Cereals