Features & Production Tips

Higher corn yields through fertility

Fertility recommendations vary from farm to farm, but may be lower for zero-till fields

By Julienne Isaacs November 24, 2014

Prairie farmers are used to being flexible, always on the lookout for new recommendations for fertility applications — and when it comes to growing corn, they have to be. Corn is an expensive crop with high nutritional requirements. And every farmer’s land requires something slightly different. Morgan Cott, field agronomist for Manitoba Corn Growers Association, […] Read more

Features, Weather

Using a seasonal weather forecast

If you have Internet access, you have useful, free long-run weather predictions at your fingertips 

By Michael Flood November 20, 2014

Every farmer knows how important the weather is to success: too many hot, dry days and the crop will be stunted; too many cold, wet days and fungi can run rampant, cutting down yields. Knowing what the weather is going to be a few days from now is vital, and having a general picture of […] Read more

Corn, Crops, Features

New corn varieties for 2015

Early maturing varieties are pushing corn into new growing regions

By Lisa Guenther November 19, 2014

UPDATED, NOV. 20, 2014 – Soybeans aren’t the only crops pushing into new areas. Seed companies are releasing more early-maturing corn varieties again this year, in a bid to expand the growing region. Some of the thriftiest new varieties, in terms of corn heat units, include DuPont Pioneer’s P7332R (2050 corn heat units) and P7410HR […] Read more

Corn, Crops, Features

Corn could be your 2015 cash crop

If you thought you lived on the fringe of the corn-growing area,  it may be time to take a look at today’s varieties

By Michael Flood November 19, 2014

Farmers in Alberta are planting more and more corn. From 5,000 acres in 1990 the area under cultivation has expanded to over 40,000 in 2014. Alberta agriculture professionals expect this trend to continue, driven by increased demand from domestic livestock producers. Though corn requires high inputs, it can produce very high per acre yields, and […] Read more

Crops, Features, Soybeans

High oleic soybeans look for market share

U.S. farmers planting high-oleic soybeans have their sights set on the canola market

By Leeann Minogue November 12, 2014

The brochure for this type of soybeans would catch any Prairie farmer’s eye: “With high oleic soybeans, you can take back the market share you lost to canola and other crops.” It’s not meant for us — it’s for U.S. soybean growers. Jay Myers, United Soybean Board director from Colfax, North Dakota said, “I don’t […] Read more

Crops, Features

Avoiding herbicide resistance

Worried weed scientists gather to discuss the future of weed control without new chemistry

By Leeann Minogue November 12, 2014

The loss of glyphosate is something that we should all lament,” said Steven Powles, director of Australia’s Herbicide Resistance Initiative. Powles compared the importance of glyphosate to penicillin, calling it a one-in-100 year herbicide. Powles was speaking to a gathering of weed scientists at the Weed Science Society of America’s second herbicide resistance summit in […] Read more

family standing in front of a Christmas tree

Canola, Cereals, Crops, Features

Farming was the right choice

After 40 years of farming, Blair Rempel knows he made the right choice when he chose to come back to the farm

By Shirley Byers November 10, 2014

Blair Rempel has been farming for almost 40 years. The Nipawin area producer and seed grower earned his diploma in agriculture at the University of Saskatchewan, in 1976. He considered other careers but always came back to agriculture. “The things I found attractive was a certain degree of independence and the satisfaction of building your […] Read more

Crops, Features, Soybeans

New soybean varieties for 2015

Seed companies shortening maturity in a bid to see varieties where no soybeans have gone before

By Lisa Guenther November 3, 2014

Farmers will have their pick of new soybean varieties to seed next spring, and seed companies are offering more and more early-maturing varieties. BrettYoung’s Akras R2 is “early enough to be suited to production in Saskatchewan and western and northern areas of Manitoba,” Rene Mabon, agronomic and regulatory services manager wrote in an email. And […] Read more

Cereals, Features, Markets

Relief on delayed delivery grain contracts

But the regulations  do not state  the penalty amounts

By Neil Blue October 30, 2014

Delayed acceptance of grain contracted for delivery by farmers to grain buyers has become increasingly common. Sometimes the delays beyond the delivery period stated in the contract have been justified. Grain movement delays caused by weather are understandable, but delays of several weeks or months are hard to justify. Grain companies often blame the railways […] Read more

Crops, Features

Choosing the right seed variety for your crop

There’s page after page of data about new seed varieties. Here’s how to find the ones that are right for you

By Michael Flood October 29, 2014

You’ve read the markets, checked the seasonal forecast, considered your crop rotation and decided what you want to put in the ground come spring. Now it’s a matter of choosing the right variety. Opening up the seed guide, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the amount of choices and the huge array of data on each […] Read more

Daily Network News

New strategies needed for Canadian agriculture to stand out in global trade

Feed Grains Weekly: Cash prices for wheat, barley largely flat

The Canadian GMO mustard wars: Dijon vs canola

Features