While most analysts agree that from a technical standpoint, corn and wheat appear to have more upside potential than soybeans, wheat was the grain this week that tumbled like a baby giraffe out of the womb, dropping its most since September. Overall, growing conditions are generally favourable in the northern hemisphere as, now that we’re… Read More
Category: Western Canada
Farmers and others involved in Canadian agriculture visited more than 500 classrooms across the country this past week during the fourth annual Canadian Ag Literacy Week. Led by Agriculture in the Classroom, with support from Farm Credit Canada, the program is designed to encourage grade 3 to 6 students to learn about agriculture through reading books, watching videos and meeting… Read More
The great thing about social media — like Twitter and Facebook — is that it provides a megaphone for farmers, a group of people who have struggled for decades to be heard by consumers. The flipside is, of course, that technology doesn’t discriminate; a megaphone for farmers is a megaphone for everybody else, too. Which… Read More
*Update on Monday, March 9th: The USDA on March 9th confirmed a second case of H5N2 avian influenza in the Mississippi flyway on a turkey farm in Missouri. Another turkey facility in Missouri has also been quarantined after preliminary tests came back positive for the virus. The first finding of the highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza virus… Read More
The Canola Council of Canada has new chair. Brian Conn, vice-president of oilseeds with Louis Dreyfus Commodities Canada Ltd. succeeds Nipawin, Saskatchewan farmer Terry Youzwa, who finished his two-year term as chair. “On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Terry for his service as Chairman,” said Conn in a CCC news release…. Read More
Hot on the heels of the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville last month, three of the big equipment manufacturers rolled out spiffy new certified pre-owned equipment programs — what’s all the fuss about? And is the extra shine and gloss of a certified sticker worth heading to the dealer vs. hanging out at auction… Read More
If you’re looking to catch up on what’s been happening in the world of Canadian agriculture, this week’s podcast runs the gamut — from seed companies collecting end point royalties to why some weeds are more prone to herbicide resistance to why McDonald’s is looking to Canada for “sustainable beef.” Here’s “This Week on Real… Read More
Rather than marketing grain right off the combine while basis levels are wide, grain bin manufacturers say they continue to see strong interest from farmers in the Corn Belt in storing more grain on-farm. Whether for marketing or logistical reasons, there are a combination of factors driving the trend, says Jeff Cravens of GSI in the… Read More
A big thanks to the extremely friendly Brandon, MB., for the hospitality this week. Our first TechTour LIVE event was a success, with over 150 participants and tonnes of cheese. As part of the day, we decided to film an episode for our infamous Talking to Farmers segment. We bribed rounded up a group of farmers eager… Read More
If you’re well aware that the grid road is leveled with a grader, and you’d have sore feet walking them in thongs, you might speak Saskatchewanese. If you know that watermelons make great helmets, and you’ve worn one on more than one occasion, you likely also know what Pil is and where to find it…. Read More
You could say the day when tractors “talk” to each other in the field has arrived, as John Deere has expanded its field automation system to include coverage map and guidance line sharing between machines. New Machine Sync features unveiled last month build on the application’s ability to link a combine with a grain cart to allow the combine operator… Read More
The Canadian government’s decision to implement UPOV ’91 standards for plant breeders’ rights is driving new investment in crop breeding, say seed industry officials. Bill C-18 — the federal legislation amending the Plant Breeders’ Rights Act — became law last week. Representatives from the seed trade and the crop sector value chain celebrated its passage at a press conference… Read More
What if you could get a two- or three-day notice on a dairy cow going into heat? Or be alerted to an impending infection or sickness days before a cow showed signs? As Nancy Charlton, with DeLaval, explains in this interview from the Canadian Dairy Xpo, the Herd Navigator software can do just that. The… Read More
Strong new crop prices for flax are expected to drive acres higher again in 2015. “The economics of flax currently make a lot of sense. There are a number of new crop bids in the $12.50 (per bushel) range. Compared to other crops that’s quite profitable, and compared to history that’s quite profitable, so I… Read More
Case IH and New Holland are the latest ag equipment brands to come out with Certified Pre-Owned programs that offer farmers additional warranty and financing options on used tractors and combines. “This program will offer used equipment customers the reliability, warranty, special financing offers and peace of mind typically found only with new equipment purchases,”… Read More