(Laura Rance photo)

Flaxseed acres likely to top official estimates

Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — The relative strength in flaxseed bids, recent uncertainty in other cropping options and a general need to mitigate risk could see a few more acres sway towards the oilseed in Western Canada this spring, according to some market watchers. Statistics Canada recently forecast flaxseed plantings for 2015-16 at 1.63 million acres, which […] Read more

Kabuli chickpeas. (PulseCanada.com)

Quality, not quantity key to chickpea sales

Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada –– Chickpeas may be relatively small in terms of acreage in Western Canada, but the quality aspects of the country’s crop, especially the larger-calibre varieties, may help command some premiums in the global market. Canadian farmers intend to plant 140,000 acres of chickpeas in 2015, down from the 170,000 seeded the previous year […] Read more


(Lisa Guenther photo)

U.S. wheat futures hit new lows, more losses likely

Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada –– All three U.S. wheat futures markets hit fresh contract lows on Tuesday — and further losses are likely, as most fundamental and technical factors remain bearish. “The trend certainly hasn’t been positive,” said market analyst Bryan Strommen of Progressive Ag in Fargo, N.D. He cited improving U.S. winter wheat conditions, favourable weather […] Read more

(CoCoRaHS.org)

Drier bias seen on horizon for Manitoba

Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — Warm and dry weather is allowing for a good start to spring seeding in Manitoba, but that dryness could pose problems down the road as its longer-term outlook is also on the dry side, according to meteorologist Drew Lerner. Temperatures on Thursday in Manitoba were hitting levels more normally seen in the […] Read more



Warm weather aids seeding, but winter still lingers

Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — A late spring snowstorm will delay seeding operations in northern Saskatchewan, but better weather across most other areas of the Prairies is allowing producers to make headway getting this year’s crop in the ground. Up to 30 centimetres of snow fell in and around Saskatoon on Saturday and Sunday, knocking out power […] Read more


Man. bean area likely to beat StatsCan forecast

Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — Early indications from Statistics Canada call for a sharp reduction in edible bean plantings in Manitoba, but actual area likely won’t be down by that much on the year, a provincial specialist says. StatsCan’s planting intentions report on Thursday predicted Manitoba farmers intend to plant 75,000 acres of edible beans in 2015, […] Read more



(Doug Wilson photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Big oats intentions surprise market

Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — A surprisingly large increase for oats acres in Statistics Canada’s planting intentions report on Thursday led to a quick drop in prices. However, actual area will likely come in below the early expectations, as declining prices should cause some acres to shift elsewhere. Oats plantings were pegged at 3.6 million acres by […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Canola down, wheat up in StatsCan’s first acreage estimates

Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada –– Canadian farmers intend to seed a bit more wheat and a bit less canola this spring compared to a year ago, according to the first survey estimates from Statistics Canada. However, adjustments are likely in subsequent reports, while weather over the growing season will become more important in determining actual production. “There’s […] Read more