There’s no shortage of heartache or questions stemming from last week’s extreme frost event across much of Ontario’s growing region. Temps dropped as low as -8 degrees C, if you can believe it, and it wasn’t just corn and soybean crops hit hard by the cold weather — tender fruit, horticulture and vegetable crops have… Read More

A shortage of low-fusarium feed wheat and the decreased value of the Canadian dollar are supporting the cash price for corn on the eastern side of the prairies. Old crop Chicago futures have been trading in the US$3.65 to US$3.95 range since early January, while cash bids in southern Manitoba have risen to between C$4.50 and C$5 bushel…. Read More

Ergot (often refered to as “Ergot of Rye”) is a disease caused by the plant fungus Claviceps pururea. It’s history with humans is rich and painful, believed to be a contributing factor in the Salem Witch Trials, and the diagnoses of “Holy Fire,” later termed “St. Anthony’s Fire.” Today, it is regarded as a highly… Read More

The Canadian International Grains Institute (Cigi) is receiving $2 million from the governments of Canada and Manitoba to purchase new equipment for applied grain research. Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn announced the funding on Friday. It’s part of both governments’ larger commitment of $20 million over five years to a “Grain Innovation Hub” in the province. “We… Read More

Recently, I was asked to speak at the Alberta Ag Services Board’s 70th annual meeting. The theme centered around change and all that agriculture had evolved through in the last 70 years. From horse-drawn implements, to variable rate, sectional control-equipped seeding equipment, the last 70 years has literally been a technological revolution in producing food…. Read More

Increasing nitrogen rates can actually prove detrimental if producers don’t also take the time to apply fungicides, says Peter Johnson, cereals specialist with Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. That’s because the resulting improvements in canopy can actually increase the potential for disease development. Enter the nitrogen/fungicide duo. “That synergy is so significant,” says Johnson, referring to… Read More

Several incredibly important and effective crop fungicides, including those that suppress fusarium in cereals, could be banned from use in the European Union soon. While this is an immediate concern for European farmers who could lose access to certain insecticide and fungicide classes, the ramifications for Canada could translate to over a billion dollars in… Read More

From a milling perspective, there’s good news about the quality profile of the 2014 wheat crop in Western Canada. Mildew is to blame for much of this year’s Canada Western Red Spring wheat falling outside of the top two grades, but wheat grading as #3 CWRS due to mildew is still exhibiting quality characteristics that millers want — attributes… Read More

Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Agriculture has released a report outlining the quality profile of this year’s crop. Only nine percent of the province’s spring wheat crop is projected to be graded number 1 — well below the 10 year average of 39 percent. For winter wheat, only three percent is expected to grade as number 1, compared… Read More

Syngenta Canada Inc. has announced the registration of Fortenza seed treatment, a new seed-applied insecticide for early-season cutworm control. The seed treatment can be used in conjunction with foliar products as part of canola growers’ cutworm management strategy. Cutworms are an early season pest of canola and be particularly devastating to a crop, as the pest… Read More

Quality problems with this year’s durum crop in Italy and France, combined with the worst quality crop on record and lower yields in Canada, have resulted in skyrocketing prices for durum. Buyers are scrambling to find higher quality supplies for pasta production, says Neil Townsend, director of market research with CWB, in the interview below…. Read More

 

Register for a RealAgriculture account to manage your Shortcut menu instead of the default.

Register