Canadian farmers plan to seed far fewer acres of canola and much more wheat than what the market was expecting, according to Statistics Canada's first acreage estimates for the 2018 growing season. The federal agency published its Principle Field Crop Areas report on Friday, based on a survey of about 11,600 farms between March 2... Read More
Category: Crop Production
After several delays on voting, a majority of European Union member states voted in favour of added restrictions on outdoor neonicotinoid use on Friday. Restrictions on neonic use within the EU were first introduced in 2013. Similar to restrictions in Canada, imidacloprid, clothianidin, and thiamethoxam were first restricted for use on corn wheat, barley, oats,... Read More
After several years of waiting, Canadian farmers will be able to use the plant growth regulator (PGR) known as Manipulator on wheat destined for the U.S., beginning in 2018. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency published the regulation establishing a maximum residue limit for chlormequat chloride — the active ingredient in Manipulator — on Wednesday (April... Read More
As of Sunday night only five percent of U.S. corn acres had been planted. That's nine percent behind the five-year average and 10 percent behind last year at this time. This may have you thinking this is bullish for corn prices, right? However, the U.S. farmer, and Canadian alike, can plant at paces never seen... Read More
When a field is confirmed infected with clubroot, it's recommended that producers implement (or continue) strict sanitation protocols, crop rotations, and the responsible use of Plasmodiophora brassicae-resistant canola varieties. There may be further options, however, like the use of fumigants traditionally used in horticulture. "The first fumigant I look at is Vapam, and the Vapam…Read More
The Canadian Grain Commission has announced it is moving five more Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat varieties to the new Canada Northern Hard Red (CNHR) wheat class due to these varieties not meeting gluten requirements for Western Canada's flagship CWRS class. After hearing concerns about gluten strength from customers, the Grain Commission tightened the... Read More
Soybean growers will soon have a new tool in the fight against yield-robbing soybean aphids. BASF expects to launch Sefina, a new insecticide it says will deliver control of aphids and white flies in soybean and potatoes, in 2019. BASF Canada horticulture crop manager Scott Hodgins explains that the new insecticide will deliver a unique... Read More
Host Peter Johnson tackles a broad range of topics in this week's podcast, from weird weather (and chilling out about it) to cold imbibition, pH extremes, and salted out thiosulfate, Find a summary of today’s show topics and times below the audio. Have a question you’d like Johnson to address? Or some yield results to... Read More
Manitoba-based crop nutrient company ATP Nutrition has been acquired by a startup company that specializes in microbial products for plant and soil health. Inocucor Corporation announced the purchase of ATP Nutrition on Tuesday. "The combination of biologicals...with plant nutrients in ready-to-use combinations is unique in the ag sector," says Donald R. Marvin, president and CEO... Read More
Ontario ag retailers need to provide leadership in helping farmers adopt 4R nutrient stewardship and a new audit program can do just that, says AGRIS Co-operative agronomist Dale Cowan. In 2015, OMAFRA, the Ontario Agri Business Association, Fertilizer Canada, and ag retailer stakeholders signed a memorandum of understanding stating that 4R nutrient stewardship – right... Read More