Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — The 2018 mustard crop in Western Canada could hit half a million acres according to an industry expert, but he cautions that number could be much lower if dry soil conditions persist until spring. In 2017, there were 385,000 acres of mustard seed planted in Western Canada, down from 525,000 acres in […] Read more
Prairie mustard acreage depends on spring moisture
Farmer-made hay dryer boosts quality
Chinook bale dryer uses spikes to dry bales from the inside out
Reading Time: 3 minutes Chris Martin saw how hay bale dryers were working in Quebec and thought that the concept would work on his farm in Ontario. And he figured he and his brother could make one that worked even better. Three years later, they have their dryer working – but not perfected – and have sold one other […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market maintains upward trend
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were quite variable this past week. Strength was noted in the eastern Prairie regions where markets traded $5 to as much as $10 above week-ago levels; however, Alberta steer prices were relatively unchanged but heifers traded $5 to $8 higher. Available feeder supplies will tighten as we approach the end […] 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
Right from the farm
Farmer-owned Capricorn Bay bridges the planter-drill divide
Reading Time: 4 minutes The Prince family runs a large-scale family farm in southwestern Manitoba, where for years they have wished for a single, effective piece of seeding equipment that they could use for all of their crops. Now, they’ve turned that dream into a market-ready implement and a fledgling equipment brand. Their on-farm creation, the PPS planter, can […] Read more
Agco to ramp up Regina parts distribution
Reading Time: 2 minutes Prairie farmers using Agco equipment brands such as Massey Ferguson and Challenger can expect more types of parts to be in stock more often at the company’s Regina warehouse. The U.S. farm equipment firm’s Agco Parts arm on Friday announced a major expansion of its parts distribution centre in Regina, to be completed by early […] Read more
New record set for Prairie grain throughput in 2016-17
Reading Time: 4 minutes Western Canada’s grain industry moved a record volume of grain in the 2016-17 crop year that ended July 31 and is gearing up to ship this year’s crop, expected to be the smallest in four years. Export terminals at Vancouver, Prince Rupert and Thunder Bay put through 35.945 million tonnes of grain last crop year, […] Read more
ICE weekly outlook: Canola market at mercy of weather
Reading Time: < 1 minute CNS Canada — ICE Futures Canada canola contracts climbed higher during the week ended Wednesday, following gains in the U.S. soy market. The dominant November canola contract posted a gain of $28.70 per tonne. That lifted it above major resistance to settle at $510.80. Prices were also boosted by concerns that rising temperatures in Western […] Read more
Strong demand keeps Prairie feed barley well supported
Reading Time: < 1 minute CNS Canada — Feed barley bids remain well supported in Western Canada, as solid demand and reluctant farmer selling keep the market underpinned heading into the summer months. “There is pretty decent demand. I’d say higher than average for this time of year,” said Brandon Motz, sales manager with CorNine Commodities in Lacombe, Alta. Strong […] Read more
Syngenta exits canola seed business
Reading Time: 2 minutes Canola growers checking out Syngenta Canada’s 2018 seed guide for Western Canada will notice canola by its absence. Syngenta, which entered the Prairie canola seed market in 2013 and by this spring had six hybrid varieties on offer, said in a statement it has “recently taken the decision to exit the canola seed business.” The […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
