Aerial view of a loop track featuring a train of CPKC’s newer “high-efficiency” grain hopper cars, at a G3 elevator near Moose Jaw, Sask. in December 2018. (CPR.ca)

Richardson elevators expanding to feed ‘high-efficiency’ trains

Eight sites along CPKC lines to get expanded rail car spots

Grain handler Richardson International plans to expand rail car spots at eight Prairie elevators on Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) lines as the railway gears up for longer trains with new higher-volume hopper cars. Winnipeg-based Richardson on Monday announced expanded rail car spots for its elevators at Lacombe, Carseland, Provost and Olds, Alta.; Estevan, Whitewood […] Read more

(Richardson.ca)

Richardson makes first entry in branded crop inputs

Company launches new N stabilizer, CirrusX

Prairie grain handler and agribusiness Richardson Pioneer has launched itself into self-branded crop inputs with a nitrogen stabilizer, CirrusX. Steve Biggar, associate vice-president of fertilizer and energy products for Winnipeg-based Richardson, said it was the right time for the company to launch CirrusX because of new treaters the company has installed to allow liquid products […] Read more


Plant leaves were necrotic and leaf tips were turning brown.

Crop advisor casebook: Why did this barley field turn yellow almost overnight?

A Crop Advisor's Solution from the March 23, 2021 issue of Grainews

Driving through lush, green farmland near Elfros, Sask., one day in July, I had a peaceful, easy feeling as I watched a gentle breeze rock the growing crops back and forth in the passing fields. It was a perfect summer day, one that farmers and agronomists dream about. The dream came to an abrupt halt […] Read more

(Video screengrab from Richardson.ca)

Richardson to upgrade western Manitoba elevator

High-throughput to replace wooden crib structure at Swan River

Prairie grain handler Richardson Pioneer plans to start work this spring on a new high-throughput elevator “effectively replacing” its Swan River Valley unit in northwestern Manitoba. The Winnipeg company’s current site, on Canadian National Railway (CN) track about six kilometres north of the town of Swan River, is anchored by a wooden crib workhouse and […] Read more


File photo of a Richardson Pioneer concrete elevator. (Dave Bedard photo)

Richardson to boost Peace region grain handle

New elevator in progress west of Grande Prairie

Prairie grain handler Richardson Pioneer has started work on a new elevator to expand its access to the southern reaches of northwestern Alberta’s Peace region. The Winnipeg company said Thursday it expects to complete a new high-throughput grain elevator by fall next year on Canadian National Railway (CN) track at Huallen, about 35 km west […] Read more

The affected canola plants were stunted and had prematurely ripened. When I pulled up a few plants to look at the roots they appeared normal.

Crop advisor casebook: What’s causing these undersized, odd-coloured canola stems?

A Crop Advisor's Solution from the January 21, 2020 issue of Grainews

John, who grows mainly wheat, canola and peas on his farm near Canora, Sask., called me in late August to report a problem his swather operator had spotted while swathing a canola field. Within the field, he said, there were numerous patches with canola plants that were undersized and had odd-coloured stems. John hadn’t seen […] Read more


I could see lots of the worms crawling around next to an armyworm that I also observed on the plant.

Crop advisor casebook: Can you identify the worms in this barley?

A Crop Advisor's Solution from the January 7, 2020 issue of Grainews

Like most farmers, Tom has dealt with his share of insect pests. He’s encountered many different pests at his 6,000-acre mixed grain operation near Wadena, Sask., over the years, but this past August he came across a new insect that had him stumped. Tom called me in early August to say he’d been out inspecting […] Read more

File photo of a Richardson Pioneer concrete elevator. (Dave Bedard photo)

Richardson to replace northernmost grain elevator

Grain handler Richardson Pioneer plans to replace the northernmost grain elevator in its Prairie network by next fall. The arm of Winnipeg’s Richardson International said Monday it has started construction on a new elevator at High Level in northwestern Alberta, about 200 km south of the province’s border with the Northwest Territories. The new facility, […] Read more


Blackleg disease incidence in the crop was medium to medium-high. However, I thought the blackleg was compounding another, larger issue in this crop. Some of the roots looked funny when we pulled the plants out of the soil, almost like there was an abundance of organic matter or extra loamy soil collecting at the roots.

Crop advisor casebook: Irregular canola pod shatter a mystery

A Crop Advisor's Solution from the August 27, 2019 issue of Grainews

Dave, who farms 6,000 acres of wheat, barley, peas and canola in Central Alberta, was trying out a new canola seed variety, which was in its first market year. The variety had clubroot resistance and had also been selected for some pod shatter tolerance. Throughout the growing season, the canola crop had developed normally, and […] Read more

After Tom’s in-crop herbicide application, he noticed his wheat crop was yellowing in patches and there was a reduction in plant stand. Damaged plants were stunted and their leaves were twisting and pinched off.

Crop advisor casebook: Is fertilizer burn yellowing this wheat crop?

A Crop Advisor's Solution from the May 14, 2019 issue of Grainews

I received a call from Tom mid-June last year after he noticed his wheat crop was yellowing and there was a reduction in plant stand following his in-crop herbicide application. Tom, who owns a 2,500-acre mixed farm in the Meadow Lake region, thought the stand loss could be the result of an injury from the […] Read more