In a good news/not so good news scenario, the 2012 corn crop is showing very low incidence of ear molds. That said, there are likely to be areas with higher numbers, and farmers are reminded to scout or test each field for possible infection, especially if the crop is destined for feed use. In this... Read More
Category: Crop Production
The 2012 canola crop is not just smaller than expected, it's also light on oil content. According to the Canadian Grain Commission, this year's crop is averaging a mean oil content of 43.5% (on a 8.5% moisture basis, No. 1 grade). That's down quite a bit from last year when it was 45.2%. The 10-year... Read More
One of the most frequently asked questions I get concerns dormancy — what causes it and how it impacts crops destined for seed use. Dormancy in cereals is the most common of all, and it can be quite troublesome in certain years. This year, growing conditions have been excellent and very little dormancy has... Read More
This semester at the University of Guelph, Ontario Agriculture College, Francois Tardif and Mike Cowbrough's Crops 4240 - Undergraduate Weed Science students were given the assignment of making a weed identification video for a weed commonly found in Ontario. The objective is for the students to discuss identification at different growth stages and methods of... Read More
As farmers approach the mid-way point of the Ontario corn harvest (and quickly surpass it, we hope), preliminary reports suggest decent yields in spite of challenging conditions. That said, it most certainly wasn't an ideal growing season, and farmers aren't likely to see their highest ever production this year. What a challenging year does allow... Read More
13.4 million tonnes of canola is, historically, a big canola crop. For 2012, however, it's a total tonnage figure that disappointed many Western Canadian farmers. As we reported earlier this year, the swaths looked like a 35 bushel crop but yielded closer to 20. Many were shocked by the significantly lower Statistics Canada production number... Read More
A web-based crop protection selection tool, AgChemExpert, launched this week. AgChemExpert is a custom designed software program that helps farmers and agronomists alike understand what chemicals do what, how and when to use them and even what they are made up of, according to the company's release. Developed by agronomist Chris Hawkins, A-C-E is an... Read More
There are more than a few weeks ahead yet for the corn harvest, but as a testament to constantly improving genetics and the hardiness of the crop, preliminary corn yields for 2012 are actually quite good. There are areas that are hurting, yes, but some farmers are pleasantly surprised with yields and quality, especially in... Read More
Earlier this year the CWB (as it was still named) rolled out handling agreement announcements at Canada's Farm Progress Show at Regina, Sask. During and after the press conference, more than a few weighed in on what percentage of the grain handle the monopoly-less board could possibly attract. Some estimated as much as 30% to... Read More
CWB has extended the deadline for farmers to sign up to the Harvest Pool from today to Friday, November 9. "CWB recognizes that farmers need time to adjust to new options and procedures in the first year of the open market for Prairie grain," president and CEO Ian White said in a company release. "Many... Read More