Crops & Production Tips

Canola, Corn, Crops, Fruit/Vegetables, Reuters, Soybeans

U.S. FDA to cut trans fats from foods

By GFM Network News June 16, 2015

Washington/New York | Reuters –– The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday made good on its proposal to effectively ban artificial trans fats from a wide range of foods, from microwave popcorn to frozen pizza, saying they raise the risk of heart disease. Under new FDA regulations, partially hydrogenated oils, which have been shown […] Read more

Crops, Markets, Reuters

U.S. grains: Soybeans rally as planting slows, crop concerns emerge

By GFM Network News June 16, 2015

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures rose as much as 2.5 per cent on Tuesday, supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s cut to crop ratings and its report showing planting has fallen behind the typical pace, traders said. Corn futures rose too, firming on bargain buying after posting a sharp […] Read more

Canola, Cereals, Columns

Manage water to optimize wheat, canola production

Use your irrigation system to its full potential by asking these four question about water needs

By Ross H. McKenzie June 15, 2015

Often the most limiting nutrient in irrigated crop production is water! Many irrigation farmers tend to under-irrigate their crops, which limits yield potential. Often the main reasons for under-irrigation are simply not checking soil moisture frequently and starting the irrigation system too late. Knowing the answers to these four questions can help. 1. How much water does […] Read more

Farmland south of Turtleford benefited from recent rain. (Lisa Guenther photo)

Crops, Hay, Pasture, Weather

Guenther: Rain drops in on NW Sask.

By Lisa Guenther, GFM Network News June 15, 2015

Farmers and ranchers in northwestern Saskatchewan received much-needed rain late last week and over the weekend. Tom Brown raises cattle and is a crop reporter for Saskatchewan Agriculture and the reeve for the Rural Municipality of Mervin. His farm at Turtleford, about 80 km east of Lloydminster, received 11 mm of rain on Thursday night, […] Read more

Crops, Markets, Spring Wheat, Winter Wheat

Prairie wheat bids down with U.S. futures, rising loonie

By GFM Network News June 15, 2015

CNS Canada — Cash bids for Canadian wheat dropped during the week ended Friday, as the combination of a rising Canadian dollar and dropping U.S. futures weighed on prices across the Prairies. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat prices were C$12-$16 per tonne lower, with bids ranging from about $204 per tonne in north-central […] Read more

Crops, Markets, Reuters

U.S. grains: Weather view weighs on CBOT corn, wheat

By GFM Network News June 15, 2015

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures sank 2.9 per cent on Monday, hitting a two-week low on expectations that drier conditions in the U.S. Plains will allow farmers to harvest a bumper crop, traders said. Corn futures also fell, hitting new contract lows amid pressure from good weather for crop development […] Read more

Cow-Calf, Crops, Markets, Reuters, Weather

Rain sprinkles Prairie canola fields, pastures

By Rod Nickel, GFM Network News June 15, 2015

Winnipeg | Reuters — Light rains sprinkled Western Canada’s crops and pastures during the weekend, but amounts fell well short of what’s needed to remedy dry conditions that have stunted growth, analysts said Monday. Rains were scattered across the Prairies and similar light amounts are expected during the next two weeks, Commodity Weather Group said […] Read more

Late blight has cost potato growers worldwide billions in damaged crops. (Scott Bauer photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Crops, Fruit/Vegetables, Potatoes

Soil bacteria may offer weapon against late blight in potatoes

By Lisa Guenther, GFM Network News June 13, 2015

Potato producers may soon have a new ally in their battle against late blight, and it’s right under their feet. Researchers have discovered bacterial strains in the soil that show promise as disease controls. Some bacteria suppress or inhibit late blight by over 90 per cent, according to an Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) release. […] Read more

Crops, Machinery, Markets

Reactions mixed on U.S. biofuel policy role in Canadian market

By GFM Network News June 13, 2015

CNS Canada — The climate of the Canadian renewable fuel market could shift when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalizes its new targets, some industry professionals say. Revised biofuel targets recently proposed by the EPA would reduce standards put in place in 2007. The changes would adjust Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) regulations by reducing volume […] Read more

Crops, Markets, Spring Wheat, Weather

Prices to rise as yield prospects drop for durum

By GFM Network News June 12, 2015

CNS Canada — Mounting dryness concerns in some of the prime durum-growing regions of Western Canada have likely already cut into yield prospects, which should support prices going forward. Canadian farmers intended to plant 5.5 million acres of durum this year, well above the 4.75 million seeded the previous year and the largest crop since […] Read more

Daily Network News

Monarch electric tractor’s future in Canada unclear as Caterpillar takes over

Western Australia farmers turn to canola over wheat as fuel, fertilizer costs rise

U.S. is leading G20 initiative to ensure fertilizer access, sources say

Crops