(File photo by Dave Bedard)

Funds sitting on large net long in canola

Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — The net long position fund traders are holding in canola futures remains historically large, with almost all of the managed money in the market sitting on the long side, according to the latest commitment of traders (CoT) report from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Managed money fund traders as of Tuesday […] Read more


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

U.S. grains: Soybeans touch 6-1/2 year high

Corn follows as traders eye South American crops

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures surged to their highest in 6-1/2 years on Friday as the rain outlook in key South American growing areas remained uncertain, threatening harvest prospects as global demand strengthens, traders said. Forecasts of low U.S. soybean inventories and strong demand from U.S. processors and importers like China have made […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Barley market cools ahead of New Year

More strength is still likely, however

Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — The feed market in Western Canada may be stabilizing heading into the holiday season, but underlying fundamentals remain supportive and could lead to more strength in the New Year. While the market was holding steady in mid-December, “I think it will go back up in January/February/March,” said Mike Fleischhauer of Eagle Commodities in […] Read more


(Fudio/iStock/Getty Images)

People growing too much pot at home, Health Canada warns

Pressure on to prevent abuse of home-grow program

Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — Health Canada on Thursday raised concerns about the large quantity of medical marijuana people were growing at home, after its data showed a significant jump in daily average production permitted by health care practitioners. While the practitioners can allow registered patients to grow a limited amount at home for personal use, the regulator’s […] Read more

CBOT March 2021 corn with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn, wheat, soybeans rally with exports in focus

CBOT March wheat passes US$6 mark

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade soybean and corn futures rose on Thursday, with soybeans soaring past the US$12 a bushel mark and hitting a fresh 4-1/2-year high after a strong weekly export report sparked a rally, traders said. The good demand for U.S. supplies highlighted concerns about potential harvest shortfalls in South […] Read more


Figure 1 (left). These are the most often mentioned “challenging to control” weed species. In order from most common to least common: lamb’s quarters, Canada fleabane, foxtails, pigweed, common ragweed, giant ragweed, wild carrot, waterhemp, sow-thistle, velvetleaf, fall panicum, wild oats, vetch and bluegrass. Figure 2 (right). Management practices identified by agronomists that improved on-farm weed control. Management practices are ranked beginning with most often mentioned: fall weed control, residual herbicides, multiple modes of action, crop rotation, soil fertility, cover crops, scouting and two-pass herbicide applications.

Pest Patrol: Control of income-robbing weeds

#PestPatrol with Mike Cowbrough, OMAFRA

Reading Time: 2 minutes All farmers know that poor weed control reduces income. Staying on top of income-robbing weeds requires two things: first, knowing which species cause farmers the most grief and, second, understanding which management practices consistently provide good weed control. I asked over 30 agronomists from across Ontario to share their biggest challenges and successes in weed […] Read more

Green lentils. (Savany/iStock/Getty Images)

Pulse weekly outlook: Markets steady heading into holidays

Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Pea and lentil markets in Western Canada are holding relatively steady heading into the holiday season, with little movement expected one way or the other until the New Year. “That’s normal for this time of year,” said Dale McManus of Johnston’s Grain at Welwyn, Sask. on the lack of activity and stagnant prices. […] Read more


File photo of Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau speaking to media in Winnipeg in March 2019. (Dave Bedard photo)

Bibeau says government committed to federal plant breeding

Seed royalty consultations stalled

Reading Time: 2 minutes The Canadian government is committed to plant breeding, federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau told members of the Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation on Tuesday. Some farmers and seed industry officials suspect Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) variety development work, along with many other programs, will be on the chopping block post-COVID-19 as the government tackles its […] Read more

(Fentino/E+/Getty Images)

Bibeau promises help to farmers on rising carbon tax

Funds expected to help farmers cut emissions

Reading Time: 2 minutes A steadily rising carbon tax has a lot of Western Canada’s grain farmers wondering how they’ll compete in world markets against competitors not subjected to a similar tax. “I think the world market is also looking towards a greener economy and always more sustainable agriculture,” federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said when the question was […] Read more