Higgins winter barley in southern Alberta on July 6, 2019. Stamp Seeds has discontinued trials of this variety due to winterkill concerns, but is currently running a demonstration plot of a promising new two-row European variety.

Barley getting through the winter

The search for hardy varieties continues, both in Eastern and Western Canada

Reading Time: 4 minutes Winter barley produces a higher-yielding, lower-moisture grain than spring-seeded barley. It’s appealing as a forage crop, as a cover crop and as a means of diversifying rotations. But in most of Canada, there’s just one problem — winter. In Europe, winter malting barley is favoured over spring barley for its longer growing season and ability […] Read more

CBOT May 2021 soybeans with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soy futures consolidate after gains

Excess rain in Brazil underpins soy, corn futures

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. grain and soybean futures fell on Wednesday as the markets consolidated after rallying in the previous session. Strength in the U.S. dollar weighed on prices, analysts said, because a firm dollar makes U.S. farm products less attractive to importers (all figures US$). For soybeans, there was a “lack of fresh […] Read more


Farmers Edge’s online event on March 3 included a congratulatory note from TMX Group, owner of the TSX. (Farmers Edge video screengrab)

Farmers Edge launches IPO

Digital ag firm makes first public share offering to big demand

Reading Time: 2 minutes Manitoba’s best-known digital agriculture firm is now a publicly-traded company. Farmers Edge, founded in 2005 in Pilot Mound, Man. by agronomists Wade Barnes and Curtis MacKinnon, has carved out a niche using field-centric data, artificial intelligence and its FarmCommand data management platform. CEO Wade Barnes called it an exciting day during an online press conference […] Read more

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Pulse weekly outlook: Turkey’s record-level lentil imports expected to decrease

Country's domestic acreage expected up in 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Canadian lentil exports to Turkey reached unprecedented numbers in 2020. According to Statistics Canada data, Turkey imported 534,160 tonnes worth $355 million during the calendar year, making it the second-largest buyer of Canadian lentils behind India. Last year’s total nearly equalled the amount of lentils Canada exported to Turkey over the previous three […] Read more


A view from Globeways Canada’s office at Mississauga, Ont., from a 2011 video marking the presentation of the Mississauga Board of Trade’s award for Small Business of the Year. (MBOT video screengrab via YouTube)

Pulse packers’ security covers cash owed to farmers

Sales of Globeways plants in Manitoba, Saskatchewan now approved

Reading Time: 2 minutes More than 50 farmers who were owed money for deliveries to Prairie pulse and special crop processors Canpulse Foods and Global Grain Canada are expected to get what they’re owed, as both companies’ assets move to new ownership. Canpulse, Global Grain Canada and their parent company Globeways Canada went into receivership last Nov. 19, following […] Read more

CBOT May 2021 soybeans with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soy, corn up on unfavourable South American weather

USDA lowers ratings for Kansas, Texas wheat crops

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. grain and soybean futures rose on Tuesday in a turnaround from losses the previous session, as concerns increased about unfavorable weather in crop-growing regions of South America. Traders are watching the effects of heat and dryness in Argentina and rains in Brazil amid worries about potential yield losses. The countries […] Read more


Which crops were hot in 2020, and what was not

Which crops were hot in 2020, and what was not

Annual summary shows the most popular cereal varieties across the Prairies

Reading Time: 3 minutes Using statistics from the provincial crop insurance corporations, the Canadian Grain Commission has released its annual summary of the most-insured cereal varieties for the previous growing season. In most cases, we’re listing only the top 10 reported varieties — for a full list visit the CGC website. Wheat Prairie-wide, Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) remains […] Read more

Most combines can now handle hemp without any problem.

Hemp 101 for growers

It’s now well established, with three potential markets and increased agronomic support

Reading Time: 4 minutes [UPDATED: Mar. 4, 2021] There were challenges for early hemp growers — limited markets, combining troubles and complex licensing requirements, but these problems have been reduced or eliminated. And while demand is not unlimited, it’s stable and growing every year. So if you’re looking for a profitable, easy-to-produce crop that’s also a good rotational option, […] Read more


(GZKele/iStock/Getty Images)

Sunflower seed market falls back to Earth

Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Sunflower growers in Canada took off a bumper crop in 2020, almost hitting the 100,000-tonne mark for the first time since 2010. The forecast for this year’s crop isn’t as sunny. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s latest outlook, released earlier this month, predicts the national sunflower seed crop in 2021 at 75,000 tonnes off […] Read more

CBOT May 2021 corn with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn, soy, wheat futures ease in setback from surges

Sovecon raises Russian wheat export forecast

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. grain and soybean futures eased on Monday in a setback from rallies driven by concerns about tight crop supplies. The markets will likely not decline too sharply, traders said, because of strong demand from China and the need for large global harvests. In corn, speculative bullishness in corn remains near […] Read more