Oat futures have climbed more than 30 cents a bushel since the start of the new year, raising the question: will more acres switch from wheat to oats? As of Wednesday, nearby and new crop oat futures in Chicago were in the 42 to 45 percent range relative to Minneapolis wheat. The flatter, quieter spot... Read More

Anyone who has upgraded from an old school ride-on lawn tractor to a zero-turn mower likely remembers the first few times they sat in the seat. It's an innovation that has made landscaping more efficient, and for many, more fun. And now, Tide Industries is offering an implement that will give operators another use for... Read More

In a winter where most crop markets don't appear to be trying to buy more acres, mustard prices have been an exception. "For farmers looking for profitable opportunities, mustard is sticking out like a sore thumb right now," says Chuck Penner of LeftField Commodity Research in the video below, filmed at CropSphere in Saskatoon earlier... Read More

When trying to explain why wheat prices are where they are, there are some concerns with dryness and protein levels affecting regional bids, but there is one dominant factor that's underlying the entire market: Russia and its bumper crops. World wheat carryout has grown by over 20 percent in the last three years, with Russia... Read More

Do you plant a cover crop before or after you harvest corn silage? It's an option dairy farmers should consider, says University of Wisconsin Extension crops and soils agronomist Heidi Johnson, especially when planting corn after corn. Removing corn silage and then leaving the ground bare risks soil erosion, decreases microbial activity, and reduces the... Read More

Anyone who has tried to follow directions on a maintenance or repair call via telephone knows how frustrating it can be. Machines are complicated, and, in times of stress, verbal communication isn't always easy. Amazone's new SmartService 4.0 is looking to change the way we train and interact with service specialists, as we find out... Read More

The use of drones for spraying cleared a major regulatory milestone last summer, as Transport Canada issued its first approval for commercial spraying with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), according to the Elie, Manitoba-based company that received the permission. To fly any aircraft — manned or unmanned — for commercial purposes in Canada, you must... Read More

As the Bank of Canada raised its target interest rate a 1/4 point this week, there is disagreement in how the Canadian economy will fare in 2018. While one or two more rate hikes are expected in 2018, there are also concerns on the horizon for the Canadian economy. As we hear from Farm Credit... Read More

India's government made no attempt to veil the reason for imposing tariffs on pulse crop imports in late 2017. "Cheap imports, if allowed unabated, are likely to adversely affect the interest of the farmers,” said a statement from the Indian government, announcing the 30 percent import duty on lentils and chickpeas in December. The tariffs... Read More