The market seemed surprised by the Statistics Canada report released this morning. Farmers did not. StatsCan slashed a million tonnes from its earlier estimate and has pegged production at 13.2 million tonnes. Initial reaction from farmers was, Yes, we could've have told you that, but some market analysts are concerned the number is perhaps a... Read More
Category: Crop Production
The Ontario corn crop certainly started out with great potential. Then the rain petered out. Pockets of the corn growing region received showers, but by late July, we were already talking about how big a bite the drought was taking out of yield. We'll know in a few week's time as the corn harvest gears... Read More
The Tillage Radish has piqued the interest of both eastern and western farmers. While cover crops are far more common in the east, western Canadian farmers are warming up to the usefulness of oilseed radish and the Tillage Radish. It's a versatile crop — the Tillage Radish creates massive roots that can break up hardpan,... Read More
Harvest is a great time to grab a sample of grain and have it tested for germination and disease levels. Harvest is also the easiest (and warmest) time to get a representative sample, as you can sample as you fill bins. The sooner you know some basic quality parameters the better, as poor germ or... Read More
Whether it's to fix nitrogen, protect against erosion or to do both these and provide grazing or green feed, cover crops are a key component of Ontario crop rotations. While many farmers are content with oats, red clover or ryegrass, the options for cover crops are seemingly endless. Christine Brown, cover crops specialist with OMAFRA,... Read More
Uniform seeding at a consistent depth is the first step to a banner wheat crop, but the first mistake many farmers make — seeding too deep — hurts them twice over. Wheat seeded too deep means fewer plants emerge and those that do are slower to grow and produce fewer tillers. It's an issue for... Read More
A large part of the Prairies is dry. And when we say dry, we mean dusty dry down a few inches. No, not everywhere and, no, not like the U.S., but nearly the entire growing area of Manitoba could use a good drink. Farmers in parts of Saskatchewan and Alberta say the same. A dry... Read More
Cargill announced plans today to build a canola processing facility near Camrose, Alberta. Subject to receiving all required approvals, construction is expected to be completed in time for the 2014-15 canola harvest. The new crush facility is projected to have the capacity to process 850,000 metric tonnes of canola per year and will serve Alberta... Read More
A shot of glyphosate post-harvest and just before winter is the ideal way to gain control of perennials and winter annuals. Controlling them in the fall is effective because perennial weeds, such as Canada thistle and dandelions, are beginning to shut down for winter and are actively trans-locating sugars from the leaves to the roots... Read More
Every once in a while it's good to get your hands dirty, literally. Getting a good look at the medium that makes you a living can give you a new perspective on what's going on in your field. That's exactly what Lyndsey Smith got to do at Canada's Outdoor Farm Show as OMAFRA Land Resource... Read More