New corn varieties for 2022

New corn varieties for 2022

Varieties with excellent early season vigour, high yields, good drydown and more are on offer

Next year there’ll be 23 new corn options in the offing for producers in Western Canada. BrettYoung, Corteva, Dekalb, Horizon Seeds, Maizex, NorthStar Genetics, Pride Seeds, Proven Seed and Thunder Seed are all releasing new corn hybrids for the coming growing season. Please note, the following list includes only brand new releases for 2022. BrettYoung […] Read more

Most Prairie farmers are well aware of the potential advantages of soil testing but lack confidence in the interpretation.

Soil analysis reports: get what you need

Seek out trained agronomists, reputable labs and wise interpretation of soil test results

In the early 1980s, we used a commonly seen bumper sticker in southern Alberta that stated, “Don’t Guess — Soil Test!” to promote the importance of soil testing. However, 40 years later, less than 20 per cent of Prairie farmers soil test their fields on a regular basis. Why is this? For many farmers it […] Read more


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Pulse weekly outlook: Expect little movement in prices during holidays

MarketsFarm — There were no surprises for pulses in Statistics Canada’s latest production report, according to Marlene Boersch of Mercantile Venture Consulting in Winnipeg. With that in mind, she doesn’t expect any significant price changes for pulses. “Part of the reason is we’re starting to glide into the holiday period. We’ll probably see some movement […] Read more

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U.S. EPA proposes biofuel mandate cuts

Proposal seen as boost to pandemic-hit refiners

New York | Reuters — The Biden administration proposed on Tuesday a reduction in the amount of biofuels that U.S. oil refiners were required to blend into their fuel mix since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The long-awaited decision offers some relief to the U.S. refining industry after the health crisis slammed domestic demand […] Read more


CBOT January 2022 soybeans (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, green and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: CBOT soybeans drop

Corn, wheat up off early weakness

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures fell on Tuesday, pressured by signs of rising competition on the export market that could lead to a domestic supply glut, traders said. Forecasts for improving crop weather in Brazil and Argentina during January also weighed on the market. Corn and wheat futures ended firm after spending much […] Read more

File photo of a CN locomotive in Winnipeg. (Dave Bedard photo)

CN again reopens Kamloops-Vancouver corridor

'Quite a bit' of traffic shifted to Prince Rupert

MarketsFarm — After recent heavy rains forced Canadian National Railway to close its Kamloops-to-Vancouver corridor for a second time, the railway reopened its critical line to Canada’s busiest port on Sunday. CN spokesperson Jonathan Abecassis said the corridor was initially closed a second time during the most recent spell of heavy rains in southwestern British […] Read more


CBOT March 2022 corn (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, orange and dark green lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn, soybeans fall in risk-off trade

Chicago winter wheat firms

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn and soybean futures fell on Monday, with concerns about the spread of Omicron coronavirus variant causing investors to take some risk out of the market, traders said. U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) data released on Friday afternoon that showed large speculators cut their net longs in both commodities […] Read more

Dominic Barton. (Video screengrab from McKinsey.com)

Ambassador to China to leave post after helping free detainees

Canola, 5G access, other issues remain

Ottawa | Reuters –– Canada’s ambassador to China said on Monday he would soon leave his post after a two-year assignment where he helped secure the freedom of two Canadian detainees despite icy relations between Beijing and Ottawa. Dominic Barton’s departure, which will take effect Dec. 31, leaves a crucial diplomatic post open at a […] Read more


(Thinkstock photo)

Prairie cash wheat: Bids mixed, watching futures and currency

U.S. wheat futures down on week

MarketsFarm — Wheat bids across Western Canada were mixed during the week ended Thursday, as losses in U.S. futures were countered by the supportive influence of a weaker Canadian dollar. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS, 13.5 per cent protein) wheat prices were up by $5.20-$10.10 per tonne, according to price quotes from a cross-section […] Read more

A decal on a Gulfstream 650ER business jet at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) exhibition in Las Vegas on Oct. 21, 2019. (File photo: Reuters/David Becker)

U.S. EPA to propose expanding credit eligibility under biofuel program

New York | Reuters — The Biden administration is expected to propose expanding the kinds of renewable fuel production processes that are eligible to receive credits under the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard program, three sources familiar with the matter said. The move could help increase production of advanced biofuels, which include lower-carbon products such as […] Read more