Palmer amaranth. (United Soybean Board photo)

Palmer amaranth threatening U.S. corn fields

Winterset, Iowa | Reuters — A U.S. government program designed to convert farmland to wildlife habitat has triggered the spread of a fast-growing weed that threatens to strangle crops in America’s rural heartland. The weed is hard to kill and, if left unchecked, destroys as much as 91 per cent of corn on infested land, […] Read more



(Regis Lefebure photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Canadian hog prices to rise by summer

CNS Canada — Cheap prices for feed and a softer Canadian dollar have helped keep Canadian hog prices aloft so far in 2017. “Right now producers are looking at $180 to $184 a pig,” said Andrew Dickson, general manger of Manitoba Pork. “Prices are looking pretty good for June, July, August.” By July, he said, […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Japan feedmakers to tap corn stocks after U.S. supply disruption

Tokyo | Reuters — Japan’s feedmakers are expected to tap the country’s emergency stockpiles of corn as inventories decline to critically low levels due to a delay in shipments from the U.S. Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries plans to approve the measure after heavy storms in the northwestern U.S. caused lengthy delays to […] Read more



Wet fall conditions can lead to 
mouldy corn cobs and residue in
the field which can be harmful 
to grazing cattle.

Poor corn residue may need supplement

The wet fall can reduce feed quality of corn residue, create mould

In the last few years, many beef producers have taken advantage of corn residue as part of their cow herd’s overwintering feeding program. It’s a low-cost feed and for the most part, because early-gestating cows are allowed months of grazing without much trouble. Unfortunately, this wet fall has presented many challenges in feeding lower-quality corn […] Read more



goss's wilt

Goss’s wilt: An up-and-coming corn disease

It might be time to consider seeding corn varieties with resistance to Goss’s wilt

With plenty of summer storms bringing high winds and hail to the Prairies this summer, there has been more Goss’s wilt showing up in Manitoba fields. A visual survey of 142 corn fields across Manitoba in August and September identified Goss’s wilt in 56 of them. The inoculum for Goss’s wilt is present most years […] Read more

(Allan Dawson photo)

Large yields keep Manitoba farmers looking to corn

CNS Canada — Manitoba corn growers saw record yields this year despite an adverse harvest — and that trend of big crops is expected to continue, as varieties improve and more farmers commit to the crop. “It appears that the trend is headed toward larger (corn) crops,” said Myron Krahn, president of the Manitoba Corn […] Read more