Cereals & Production Tips

A closer look at ergot

Get your soils tested for copper levels if you get ergot in wheat, barley or oats, and if crops lodge easily and the grain is poor quality

By Ieuan Evans November 16, 2021

Let’s get this story on track once and for all. Ergot, as we know it in Canada, is a fungal infection of cereal grains and grasses. The word ergot is derived from the French word argot, meaning a spur. Ergots form within grain heads and displace the developing seed or grain. Ergot size may depend […] Read more

Crops, Markets, Spring Wheat

Prairie cash wheat: Bids jump after USDA projects cuts

By GFM Network News November 15, 2021

MarketsFarm — A larger-than-expected cut in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) latest supply and demand forecast, plus rising wheat futures in anticipation of tighter worldwide supply, led to higher bids for western Canadian wheat for the week ended Thursday. USDA on Tuesday trimmed world wheat ending stocks to 275.8 million tonnes, down 1.38 million […] Read more

Crops, Reuters, Spring Wheat, Winter Wheat

Brazil clears GMO wheat flour from Argentina in global first

Sales, however, may be slow

By GFM Network News November 12, 2021

Sao Paulo/Buenos Aires | Reuters –– Brazil on Thursday became the first country to allow imports of flour made with genetically modified wheat, though shipments of the new variety developed in Argentina are unlikely anytime soon due to opposition from Brazilian millers and global consumers. The decision may spur a broader global discussion about genetically […] Read more

Barley, Crops, Markets, Spring Wheat

Feed weekly outlook: Barley, wheat prices among highest ever

By GFM Network News November 10, 2021

MarketsFarm — Feed grain prices continue to push higher following a somewhat disappointing harvest on the Prairies this year, according to Glen Loyns, general manager of JGL Commodities at Moose Jaw, Sask. “We’re seeing upticks on all feed. Everything is up. You’re seeing high prices on wheat and barley. And you’re going to continue to […] Read more

Cereals, Crops, Features

New cereal varieties for 2022

Twenty-one new options for farmers in Western Canada

By Mark Halsall November 9, 2021

There are lots of new choices for cereal growers in Western Canada this winter. Twenty-one wheat, barley and oat varieties are coming to market for next year, with many of them featuring improved resistance to fusarium and rust diseases. Please note, the following list includes only brand new releases for 2022. Alliance Seed Oats: CDC […] Read more

Markets, Spring Wheat

Canadian spring wheat bids dip with Minneapolis futures

By Phil Franz-Warkentin, GFM Network News November 5, 2021

MarketsFarm – Losses in Minneapolis wheat futures weighed on Canadian spring wheat cash bids during the first week of November, although a softer tone in the Canadian dollar did lend some support. Durum bids across the Prairies were up on the week. Average Canada Western Red Spring (13.5 per cent) wheat prices were down by […] Read more

Cereals, Markets

Feed weekly outlook: U.S. corn filling Canadian feed shortages

By GFM Network News November 3, 2021

MarketsFarm – As winter approaches, corn is making up a greater appearance in feed channels, supplanting barley and wheat in the process. “In Western Canada, the yields were significantly lower than average. So we’re importing a lot of feed into Western Canada, mostly corn and corn with DDGs (dried distillers’ grains),” said Allen Pirness, manager […] Read more

Cereals, Markets

Feed weekly outlook: Almost out of space for corn

By GFM Network News October 28, 2021

MarketsFarm – At this point of the fall, there’s not much room still to be had for feed corn, according to Brandon Motz of CorNine Commodities in Lacombe, Alta. In the meantime, prices for feed barley and wheat continued to push higher. “The in-bound corn is picking up and we are starting to see new […] Read more

The Co-op Ethanol Complex at Belle Plaine, Sask. (FCL.crs)

Cereals, Corn, Crops, Machinery, Weather

Co-op to capture carbon at ethanol plant, refinery

FCL, Whitecap sign agreement to sequester fuel plants' CO2

By Dave Bedard October 24, 2021

A major Prairie ethanol and fuel producer is posed to spend just over half a billion dollars on a system to capture and sequester carbon dioxide from its operations in Saskatchewan. Federated Co-operatives announced Thursday it had signed a memo of understanding with Calgary-based ‘clean energy’ company Whitecap Resources, in which the latter company will […] Read more

Barley, Crops

Canada’s small, high-protein malt barley crop poses challenges

By Phil Franz-Warkentin, GFM Network News October 21, 2021

MarketsFarm — The hot and dry 2021 growing season cut significantly into Canada’s barley production, with the weather also leading to higher protein levels for what was harvested. “It will be an extremely tight and difficult year for the malt processors and ultimately for the brewers as well,” said Peter Watts, managing director of the […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Hog futures hit contract highs on shock herd decline

Alberta Crop Report: Harvest more than three-quarters finished

NFU says proposed plant breeders’ rights come at farmers’ expense

GFM Network News