When the fulfillment stats come in as poorly as they did for railcar numbers from February, it’s understandable that grain farmers and grain companies were not terribly pleased with rail performance. However, fulfillment numbers don’t tell the whole story, says David Przednowek, assistant vice president of grain movement for CN Rail. Przednowek says that a prolonged… Read More
Category: Weather
Peter “Wheat Pete” Johnson brought home more than just a tan from Costa Rica; there were lessons to be learned, even while enjoying a rejuvenating vacation. In this episode of Wheat Pete’s Word, Pete talks about some of these lessons, such as the need for a break, the difference that climate can make, Canadian pride,… Read More
How could a changing climate impact weed control? Will some weeds prosper? Will the herbicides farmers have in their management toolbox be more or less effective as conditions change? Cornell Cooperative Extension agriculture educator Sharon Bachman tackled these and other questions when she spoke to CCAs attending the Ontario Certified Crop Advisors meeting in London,… Read More
Never let your wheat crop have a bad day. It’s a management philosophy that more growers are adopting as they look for ways to reduce crop stress and chase higher winter wheat yields. But Oklahoma State University professor Dr. Brian Arnall is asking winter wheat growers to rethink that strategy. He argues that some pain… Read More
Scott Buchan sees the impact of technology whenever he’s watching his broiler chickens or looking at his hydro bills. For Buchan, who operates Buchrest Farms along with his family in Ontario’s Waterloo Region, investing in technology and innovation plays a key role in making the operation more profitable and sustainable. Buchan notes that his energy… Read More
If you’re like me, you have very little good to say about February. It’s cold, it’s dark, it’s stormy, and it’s the weird month sandwiched between the holidays and the fresh hint of spring. This particular February has not been kind to many regions of Canada (I mean weather-wise, but you can interpret this as… Read More
Not knowing what the weather will do is one of the great challenges when farming or ranching. While a producer can do everything within their power to ensure a successful crop, rain—or the lack of it—at inopportune times can spell disaster throughout the growing season. Weather and what it may look like for the coming… Read More
Farmers are sounding the alarm on snow loads and structure integrity this winter, as areas of Ontario have been hard hit by lake-effect snow and large snow events. From southern Ontario, up into the Bruce Peninsula, and even in Eastern Ontario, barns and shelters have collapsed under the incredible weight of snow. Stewart Skinner, hog… Read More
Weather for the last half of this winter will likely be much different than what farmers and ranchers experienced in 2024. That’s because the pattern has flipped from the El Nino-influenced conditions of 2024 to a La Nina influence for 2025, says Matt Makens of Makens Weather. In this report, he shares his take on the… Read More
Planting wheat this spring is a good option for farmers across the U.S. Northern Plains who are looking to manage input costs and want a durable crop that can stand up to weather stress. That advice comes from Limagrain Cereal Seeds team members Zach Thibault, based in Bozeman, Montana, and Troy Gerding from Fargo, North… Read More