Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan are studying whether single kernel sorting technology is effective for salvaging fusarium-infected wheat, and ultimately, reducing the amount of waste in food production. Since acquiring a Swedish-made near-infrared seed sorter known as the BoMill TriQ in 2012, U of S researchers working together with the Canadian International Grains Institute have conducted… Read More
Category: Wheat School - West
Grain is in the absolute best condition it can be when it’s put into storage. Keeping it that way is critical for maintaining its value and marketability. Insect infestations aren’t as big a problem for farmers in Canada as in other (read: warmer) parts of the world, but they can still cause significant damage. Typically, 1 to… Read More
Protein premiums or discounts can be a major factor in marketing wheat. In some years there’s plenty of high protein wheat (as looks to be the case for 2015-16) and in other years millers are left scrounging for wheat with high enough protein. We asked earlier this week whether yield or protein is a higher priority… Read More
You’ve heard it time and time again — proper residue management is essential for good seedbed preparation. It ensures uniform nutrient loading and soil temperatures, increases the likelihood of good seed-to-soil contact, and mitigates the risk of plugging and other during seeding. We’re back on residue again, and it’s just driving me crazy that we still… Read More
With crop insurance deadlines passing, much of this fall’s winter wheat planting in Western Canada is complete. While winter conditions are beyond control, there are some practices that can mitigate the risk of winterkill and help the crop get off to a strong start, both now in fall and following snowmelt in spring. In this… Read More
As harvest rolls on where weather allows, traders are getting a better handle on the yield and quality profile of this year’s wheat crop. In this Wheat School episode, Bruce Burnett, weather and crop analyst with CWB (soon to be G3 Canada) Market Research, walks us through the supply/demand fundamentals as the new crop hits… Read More
It’s been a tough few years for winter wheat in Ontario, not necessarily because of the summer season, but because of the late and wet falls farmers have struggled with for the last two seasons. The fallout from a rough harvest is two-fold when it comes to winter wheat — the crop gets put in… Read More
Not all wheat varieties are created equally when it comes to the amount of phosphorus they remove from the soil. Some varieties are efficient, while others are phosphorus hogs, explains Jay Goos, soil scientist at North Dakota State University, in this instalment of the Wheat School. So why does this matter? “The reasons I’m concerned about… Read More
The rallying cry of “harvest the wheat ASAP!” makes sense in light of heavy fusarium levels, seeing as the fungus continues to grow and cause damage even on mature wheat. But for those looking at a glyphosate application ahead of harvest, going in too early could mean glyphosate being translocated to the wheat kernels and… Read More
New wheat varieties being grown in parts of Western Canada have made it possible to produce yields that are off the charts, quite literally. Much of the research supporting nitrogen rate recommendations for wheat on the prairies has been based on a top-end yield target of 65 bushels per acre. “That was quite adequate when we were growing Barrie… Read More