The Ontario corn crop isn't going to break any yield records in 2012, but most producers are going to fare OK once decent prices are factored in to the lower yields. One bright spot in a tough year is variety comparison — in a good year, it's difficult to really be objective as to what... Read More
Category: Crop Production
As harvest wraps up, farmers thoughts turn to fall field work and planning for next year's crop. Soil sampling is one way to get a handle on where soil nutrient levels are at or how they've changed over time. The trick is to ensure soil samples are taken properly, at the right time and with... Read More
Although Alberta seed producers have done an excellent job of managing the risks associated with diseases, several of our Lethbridge clients have been concerned about Fusarium graminearum in their cereals this season and have been requesting more disease testing. One-third of the cereal samples tested this fall have tested positive for the fungus, with infection... Read More
FNA is looking for farmer commitment and seed money for a new western Canadian fertilizer plant it has dubbed "ProjectN." The organization is not looking to be an owner of this plant; FNA is acting only as facilitator to round up interest and fund the FNA Fertilizer Limited Partnership. “It needs to be clear that... Read More
It was the great Kenny Rogers that said "There'll be time enough for countin, when the dealin's done". Well, Kenny Rogers never grew corn....at least not to my knowledge. The truth is, there is a benefit of having an idea where your crop will yield before it's off the field. The trick comes in estimating... Read More
Once again, there is talk of a cosmetic pesticide ban for Manitoba. This isn't the first time this has been discussed; Manitoba is also not the first province to entertain such a ban -- one exists in whole or in part in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and PEI. Ontario introduced its ban even while expanding... Read More
If you were in the Airdrie area on the morning of the 20th and you thought you saw a farmer driving around a canola field with the Grey Cup, good news, you don't have to worry if your health care covers psychiatric assistance, it actually happened! In fact this stop was part of a joint... Read More
The recent meat recall at XL Foods is just another issue to provide adversity to the Canadian cattle industry. With one of two Western Canadian packers being forced to deal with a meat recall the lift lines have pushed an already wide basis wider. Additionally, the topic of a struggling pork industry has left many... Read More
It was strong demand for oilseed that resulted in a record number of acres of canola being planted in Western Canada this spring. Unfortunately, that record number of acres didn't translate into a record crop. Weather, disease and other factors gave the Western Canadian canola crop a solid beating this year. The result, as Moe... Read More
If supply and demand is a big part of how ag commodities are priced, it's understandable why there is some head scratching surrounding the high price of wheat. From the outside it would appear as though there is a lot of wheat around, but as Moe Agostino of Farms.com Risk Management explains it's not necessarily... Read More