Cereals & Production Tips

With the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board buying 40 per cent of Viterra, Lee Hart is hoping his share of the federal pension funds will turn a large profit.

CPP needs your grain

It's good news: Viterra returns to the Canadian fold

By Lee Hart May 9, 2016

Well I am really hoping Canadian farmers get serious about being efficient and profitable and market all those No. 1 crops through the greatest grain handling company in Canada — Viterra. Hey farmers, no more dinking around with lacklustre yields and all that needless shopping around to the “other” grain buyers. Now that my Canada […] Read more

Cereals, Crops, Markets

Minneapolis leads U.S. wheat futures trifecta

By GFM Network News May 3, 2016

CNS Canada — Minneapolis wheat prices are gaining on those at other U.S. futures markets, as traders expect reduced acres this year. But the opposite is true for the Kansas City exchange as the expectation of high production weighs, and Chicago markets are moving on technical trading. Minneapolis Grain Exchange — “We’re keeping an eye […] Read more

Barley, Crops, Features

Barley leaf diseases stealing yield

Spot blotch, net blotch will join fusarium head blight as problems in Sask. and Alta.

By Julienne Isaacs April 28, 2016

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is the most high-profile of the diseases that threaten wheat and barley annually across the Prairies. But researchers say foliar diseases will likely be the biggest barley “yield culprits” in Alberta and Saskatchewan in 2016. “From a regional perspective, leaf diseases tend to be Prairie-wide and are habitually something producers should […] Read more

Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich (l) and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. (Government.ru)

Crops, Markets, Reuters, Spring Wheat

Russia seen extending wheat export tax for 2016-17

By Reuters, GFM Network News April 28, 2016

Moscow | Reuters — Russia is likely to extend its wheat export tax for the 2016-17 marketing year, which starts on July 1, because the levy is at a minimum level under current market conditions, traders and analysts said. The government has also indicated it is unlikely to change the tax ahead of the next […] Read more

Crops, Markets, Oats

Pressure on oat prices sends farmers scouting other crops

By GFM Network News April 26, 2016

CNS Canada — Lukewarm prices for oats, coupled with dry conditions in Alberta and soggy conditions in Manitoba, are crimping acreage this year. Generally known as one of the hardier crops around, oats haven’t been setting any record highs on price charts, resulting in a forecast of 11 per cent less acreage in Canada. “The […] Read more

Crops, Markets, Spring Wheat

Prairie spring wheat bids mixed amid opposing outside factors

By GFM Network News April 25, 2016

CNS Canada — Cash spring wheat bids across Western Canada were narrowly mixed during the week ended Friday, with prices up slightly in some locations and down in others. Spillover from gains in U.S. futures was offset by the bearish influence of the rising Canadian dollar. Depending on the location, average Canada Western Red Spring […] Read more

Crops, Markets, Spring Wheat

Rising durum acres offset by declining spring wheat

By GFM Network News April 22, 2016

CNS Canada –– Increased durum acres in Canada may limit the upside potential as far as prices are concerned, but smaller spring wheat plantings will also limit the downside, according to a durum trader. Statistics Canada on Thursday pegged intended durum acres at 6.12 million acres, which would be up from 5.82 million in 2015. […] Read more

Cereals, Crops

Varieties designated for 2018 wheat class

By Lee Hart April 20, 2016

It might take a bit of thought to keep all the old and new classes straight, but here are the wheat varieties scheduled to be moved into a new Canada Northern Hard Red (CNHR) class effective August 1, 2018. There are 29 long-standing Canadian wheat varieties on the list and of those, 25 were originally registered […] Read more

Cereals, Crops

Wheat class changes for 2016

By Lee Hart April 20, 2016

While it is the hard red spring (CWRS) varieties that capture most of the attention as the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) introduces some new wheat classifications effective in 2018, there are some changes taking place for the 2016 growing season. Starting this year, effective August 1, 2016, the CGC is changing the name (and moving […] Read more

Crops, Winter Wheat

Don’t reseed winter wheat too soon

One agronomist recommends getting halfway through seeding before you decide

By Julienne Isaacs April 19, 2016

In parts of the Prairies, thin to nonexistent snow cover in parts through much of the early spring months might have some farmers worried about their winter wheat. But agronomists say it’s too soon to make the decision to reseed. “You can go out and do a spring assessment at the end of April if […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Feeders set fresh highs, hogs mixed

U.S. grains: Chicago wheat, corn tick lower on continued supply pressure

AgTalk farmer mental health support platform sees partnership renewed

GFM Network News