Crops & Production Tips

Exporters fear Brazil agents’ strike could hurt corn exports

By GFM Network News September 20, 2015

Sao Paulo | Reuters — A strike by Brazilian federal agricultural agents responsible for approving certificates required for shipments could affect Brazil’s corn exports, the director of the cereal exporters association Anec Sergio Mendes said Friday. Mendes said the strike that started on Thursday was “the worst thing that could happen” to grain exports, though […] Read more

Crops, Markets, Reuters

U.S. grains: Soybeans fall as harvest looms; wheat firms

By GFM Network News September 18, 2015

Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. soybean futures fell on Friday and were down about 0.8 per cent for the week as farmers prepared to harvest a bumper crop in the Midwest, traders said. Corn followed soybeans lower while wheat futures firmed on short covering, despite ample global supplies. At the Chicago Board of Trade, November […] Read more

Crops, Markets, Reuters, Spring Wheat

Russia defends crop data reliability

By Reuters, GFM Network News September 18, 2015

Moscow | Reuters –– Russia’s agriculture ministry defended the reliability of its crop data on Thursday, after a farmers’ lobby said regional officials were pressuring farmers to report bigger grain crops to the ministry than they actually harvested this year. The ministry said its numbers, compiled by its regional departments which send “operational information” to […] Read more

Crops, Weather

Sask. harvest advancing, but wet fields causing delays

Saskatchewan Crop Report for the week ending September 14

By Saskatchewan Agriculture September 17, 2015

Harvest is advancing despite delays due to wet field conditions. Warm and dry weather is needed before many producers can return to the field. Fifty-two per cent of the 2015 crop is combined and 30 per cent is swathed or ready to straight-cut, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s weekly Crop Report. The five-year (2010-2014) average for […] Read more

This photo and the one further down are of the canola on my “breaking” land — recently broken land (this is only the second time its been under a seed drill). The pictures were taken on July 27, 2015. In fall 2014 the soil test N in this field was only 20 lbs./acre to one foot but the zero to six inch level organic matter was 6.5 per cent. The “normal” areas in this field got 94 lbs. N/acre as anhydrous. This area got only the 20 lbs. N/acre as broadcast 21-0-0-24. Obviously, mineralization is providing much of the N. My zone fertilization plan involves telling the custom applicator to leave out the breaking and salty ground. It works!

Canola, Columns

Soil: Test the right pound of ground

If you don’t measure what you have, you can’t know what to add. Know the basics of taking soil tests

By Les Henry September 17, 2015

First, some general tips around soil testing. The first thing to note about soil testing is that it is an index — it is not like a dipstick in a crankcase. A soil test (index) rates a soil as very low to excessive and is one piece of information to guide fertilizer use. But, use […] Read more

Corn, Crops, Markets, Reuters

France bolsters ban on genetically modified crops

By Reuters, GFM Network News September 17, 2015

Paris | Reuters — France is to use a new European opt-out scheme to ensure a ban on the cultivation of genetically modified crops in the country remains in place, it said on Thursday. The European Union’s largest grain grower and exporter has asked the European Commission for France to be excluded from some GM […] Read more

Crops, Markets, Reuters

U.S. grains: Corn, wheat, soy drift lower in cautious trade

By GFM Network News September 17, 2015

Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. corn futures fell for a third day on Thursday as the harvest of an expected bumper crop expanded, but price movement was restrained as markets digested a Federal Reserve decision to leave U.S. interest rates unchanged. Wheat and soybean futures sagged on a lack of supportive fundamental news. All three […] Read more

Crops, Markets

StatsCan raises wheat, canola estimates with new model

By GFM Network News September 17, 2015

CNS Canada — Wheat and canola production are expected to be higher than in previous estimates, but still lower than in 2014, according to a new Statistics Canada model for field crop production estimates. The model-based report, released Thursday, pegs this year’s spring wheat production at 18.4 million tonnes, higher than previously forecast in the […] Read more

Corn, Crops, Markets, Soybeans

CBOT weekly outlook: Corn, soybeans moving on technical trading

By GFM Network News September 16, 2015

CNS Canada –– Corn and soybean futures at the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) are mostly moving on technical trading, profit-taking and good harvest weather. “It’s a technical trade; the range may have moved up a little bit higher than what we had thought,” said Scott Capinegro, senior broker with Highground Trading Group. Soybeans saw […] Read more

Canola, Crops, Markets

ICE weekly outlook: Growers hanging onto supplies

By GFM Network News September 16, 2015

CNS Canada — ICE Futures Canada canola contracts chalked up gains for the week ended Wednesday, as farmers hung onto supplies in the quest to draw out better prices. The January canola contract was the most consistent mover, finishing higher for the seventh consecutive session on Wednesday. Either “producers are not selling it or 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

Crops