There’s a saying about beggars and choosers, but to call Canada’s durum customers beggars would be unfair. That said, Italy’s insistence of Country of Origin Labeling of durum that has edged Canada out of its market may ease — all in the name of quality. Cam Dahl, president of Cereals Canada, says it’s an interesting… Read More
Things are looking up for the barley market. That’s the message from the SaskBarley annual general meeting held recently during CropSphere at Saskatoon, Sask. “I think the industry has never been stronger. We’re seeing huge exports on the feed side going into China, we’re strengthening in the malt side, both domestically and globally, and we’ve… Read More
How far have we come in 30 years of plant breeding and agronomic knowledge? Well, in this edition of Wheat Pete’s Word, host Peter Johnson reflects back on corn and soybean yield averages for Ontario and the gains may surprise you. What about wheat? Well, you’ll have to listen to find out if we’ve made… Read More
A French company is purchasing 15 malt barley facilities from Cargill. The purchase includes Prairie Malt, located in Biggar, Sask. The two companies, Cargill and Axéréal’s malt subsidiary, Boortmalt, entered into an agreement expanding Boortmalt’s global economic footprint. In a news release, Cargill states existing clients should also see further opportunities for growth as a result… Read More
There is constant talk about farmer-led commodity groups joining together to increase efficiencies. The farm groups in Manitoba are working on it, the Grain Farmers of Ontario have done something about it, and now so have the commissions for Alberta Barley (ABC) and Alberta Wheat (AWC). Alberta Barley has been hosting the Barley Summit in… Read More
Farmer directors representing five Manitoba producer organizations have completed a proposal to amalgamate into a single, new not-for-profit organization focused on research, communication and market development. The five groups looking to form one organization are: the Manitoba Corn Growers Association (MCGA), Manitoba Flax Growers Association (MFGA), National Sunflower Association of Canada (NSAC), Manitoba Wheat and Barley… Read More
Since 2004, the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre (CMBTC) has released its annual list of varieties they believe are top notch for producers. Three qualities these recommendations must excel in are: performance, quality, and marketability. These varieties have been tested on a pilot scale and exhibit good malting and brewing characteristics, says the CMBTC. Not only… Read More
As Mother Nature brought too little to no moisture during the growing season and then an abundance of a rain and snow during harvest, the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) has extended its sample program. “We decided to extend the deadline for harvest sample submissions to make sure that as many producers as possible could take… Read More
The long, drawn out NAFTA negotiations really weighed heavily on the nerves of agricultural exporters. The fear of losing the U.S. market or the real threat of the border possibly becoming thicker was a huge stress for beef, pork, oilseed, and cereal producers. The news, then, that there is a trilateral deal to be ratified… Read More
This week’s episode of Wheat Pete’s Word runs nearly coast to coast, with questions from out west, down south, out east, and everywhere in between. From the on-fire soybean yields in Ontario, to the evergreen crop in Western Canada, to fungicide timing on forage crops, you won’t want to miss Peter Johnson’s answers to this… Read More
As the summer days stretch and the forest fire smoke settles in over huge areas of the country, farmers are wrapping up wheat harvest in the east and starting harvest in earnest in the west. Late-season agronomy typically centres on harvest management, but diseases and insects are still lurking, especially in the corn crop. In… Read More
Average yields of 110 to 115 bushels per acre on soil that is often more than 60 percent clay? That’s impressive. And that’s why Parkland Farms is featured on our latest episode of ‘Real’ Wheat Farmers. In this video, RealAgriculture agronomist Peter Johnson peppers Parkland Farms agronomist Clark Aitken with questions on how the Lambton… Read More
A scratchy-voiced Peter Johnson needs you to get out there and scout, scout, scout for aphids on soybean. While you’re out in the fields, you also need to check for all sorts of other insects because hot, dry weather is helping creepy-crawlies multiply. It’s also time to get that first white mould suppression pass on,… Read More
Based on market demand and feedback from the malting industry, the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre (CMBTC) publishes a list every fall of recommended varieties for producers to grow the following year. And every year, for the last 11, the list has been topped by AC Metcalfe and CDC Copeland. (CDC Copeland joined AC Metcalfe… Read More
Budweiser is planning to send malt barley seed into space next week in a project that can be described as a combination of futuristic agronomy research and marketing. The famous Anheuser-Busch brand made a commitment earlier this year to be the first beer on Mars if humans colonize the red planet. “Budweiser is always pushing… Read More