(file photo)

Bunge-Viterra deal ‘effectively ends competition’ says NFU

Feds’ conditions not near enough to alleviate concerns

Reading Time: < 1 minute The National Farmers Union denounced the approval of the Bunge-Viterra merger in a statement released on Jan. 17. The NFU said the multi-billion dollar deal “effectively ends competition in Canada’s agricultural commodity sector,” as it creates the world’s largest agricultural commodity trader, and it will control 40 per cent of the Canadian grain market.






The latest model-based production estimates from Statistics Canada shows downward revisions in both canola and wheat production from the August report. Photo: Thinkstock

StatCan revises canola production lower

Reading Time: 2 minutes Hot and dry weather saw crop conditions decline across much of Western Canada over the past month, with the latest model-based production estimates from Statistics Canada showing downward revisions in both canola and wheat production from the August report.



File photo of a thistle plant in a wheat crop. (Dave Bedard photo)

Vietnam to call off thistle seed ban in grain imports

Move will restore regular grain trade, Cereals Canada says

Reading Time: 2 minutes Vietnam is expected to resume nearer-to-normal grain trade with exporting nations such as Canada, after it loosens a significant restriction on weed seed content. Cereals Canada, a national cereals industry group, on Friday reported that Vietnam’s agriculture ministry has released a revised quarantine pest list due to take effect Sept. 29. The new list, Cereals […] Read more

(Lightguard/iStock/Getty Images)

Saskatchewan’s harvest 90 per cent complete

Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Excellent weather over the week ended Monday saw Saskatchewan farmers make good harvest progress, with 90 per cent of the province’s crops off the field, according to the latest provincial report. Harvest progress was up from 81 per cent the previous week — and from the five-year average of 82 per cent. While […] Read more


(Lightguard/iStock/Getty Images)

Saskatchewan crops advancing quickly

Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Hot and humid conditions saw crops in Saskatchewan advance quickly during the week ended Monday, according to the latest provincial crop report — although the humidity has slowed haying. When humidity is high, cutting hay becomes more challenging and hay that is cut does not dry down as quickly, which can result in […] Read more

Figure 1: A weed seed’s perspective of having to germinate in the spring under a thick winter wheat canopy, which reduces the amount and quality of two key components for that weed to germinate: sunlight and heat.

Pest Patrol: Why growing cereal crops is bad for weeds

#PestPatrol with Mike Cowbrough, OMAFRA

Reading Time: 3 minutes The benefits of growing winter wheat in a crop rotation have been well established. Long-term research at the University of Guelph has shown a 10 bu./ac. increase in corn yields and a five bu./ac. increase in soybean yields when winter wheat is grown. Other benefits, such as increased soil organic matter when cereals are grown, […] Read more