Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — Canadian farmers grew a record amount of canola in 2017, despite weather concerns, according to updated production estimates on Wednesday from Statistics Canada. The agency pegged production in 2017-18 at 21.3 million tonnes, up from the September estimate of 19.7 million and last year’s total of 19.6 million. The rise in production […] Read more
Canola stocks look less tight in StatsCan report
Larger crops expected in StatsCan report
Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — Canada’s canola and wheat production likely ended up larger than earlier expectations, but just how much more remains to be seen, as industry participants await the Statistics Canada production report due out Wednesday. “The finish seemed to be better than what the weather looked like earlier in the year,” said Neil Townsend […] Read more
Improving flax one allele at a time
Rust hasn’t affected Canadian flax for more than 40 years, but new varieties must still incorporate resistance
Reading Time: 4 minutes On the surface, you’d think that a research project seeking to locate and sequence specific rust-resistance genes, then find ways to quickly identify the presence of these genes in plant breeding material is ultimately about preventing crop loss to rust. But we’re talking about flax here, so think again. Flax is a one million-acre crop […] Read more
The best crop row spacing is…
A multi-year study suggests there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question
Reading Time: 6 minutes The question of the best row spacing has been asked even more often in recent years, and it turns out that the answer is the same as for many other questions in farming — “It depends.” But on what? A multi-year study by researchers at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Indian Head Agricultural Research […] Read more
Trade expecting bigger canola, wheat numbers from StatsCan
Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — Canadian farmers harvested the biggest canola crop on record, slightly larger than was expected in September, a Reuters survey of 15 traders and analysts showed ahead of a key government report. Wheat production is also seen higher than earlier expectations, as favourable weather produced big yields. Statistics Canada will release its final crop […] Read more
Canadian flax prospects dimmed by China’s silk road
Reading Time: 2 minutes Winnipeg | CNS – China’s construction of a new “silk road” connecting the country to Europe isn’t likely to be good news for Canadian flax exporters. For several years, Canada has been the main exporter of flax to China but that could likely change if Kazakhstan ever has a direct link to the China. “We […] Read more
Flax opportunities
Agronomics and yield are the big priorities for flax growers in Western Canada
Reading Time: 9 minutes Flax acres have started to rebound over the past few years, with Saskatchewan still accounting for most of the flax grown on the Prairies. In order to entice more growers to flax, however, yields will need to increase. Average flax yields have hovered around 22 bu./ac. for many years, and although growers in some areas […] Read more
PHOTOS: Signs of what’s lacking
Is your crop problem a shortage of macronutrients such as N, P and K, or of micronutrients such as copper or boron? Here’s a guide to identifying some of the symptoms
Reading Time: 2 minutes Many nutrient deficiency symptoms in crop plants look similar and may be confused with damage from frost, insects, disease or herbicide drift. To confirm the cause of symptoms in your crop, you can consult your local provincial crops specialist, consult a soil fertility expert or send tissue samples to a lab with tissue-testing capabilities. An […] Read more
Taking aim at food waste, companies plan simplified expiration labels
Reading Time: 2 minutes New York | Thomson Reuters Foundation — Some of the world’s largest consumer goods companies, including Kellogg and Wal-Mart, said on Wednesday they will simplify food expiration labels in an effort to eliminate confusion that contributes to food waste. Standardized labeling will use a single expiration date on perishable items and a single quality indicator […] Read more
StatsCan’s model-based estimates confirm larger crops
Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — Canadian canola and wheat production likely ended up larger than earlier estimates, according to computer model-based data released Tuesday by Statistics Canada. The model-based estimates are calculated by incorporating satellite data, agro-climate data, and Statistics Canada’s field crop reporting data. The numbers compare with the survey of farmers released Aug. 31. Total […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
