How have soybeans changed over the past century, and what can growers learn from this evolution? Purdue University agronomy professor Shaun Casteel has some answers. Speaking at the recent Ontario Certified Crop Advisor annual conference, Casteel shared insights from his research comparing varieties from 1923 to those available in 2011. In this episode of Real... Read More
Category: Western Canada
Grain markets through the middle of January continue to be driven by South American weather challenges, namely flooding in parts of Argentina just as the soybean crop down there is starting to emerge. However, geopolitical factors like the U.K. Brexit and Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 45th U.S. President also weighed on markets. While soybeans... Read More
Despite the protectionist rhetoric coming from President Trump, the trade critic for the federal Conservatives sounds hopeful — even optimistic — about Canada's trading relationship with the United States. "It's fine to say you want to put America first. It's fine to say you want to create jobs at home, but at the end of... Read More
Sitting in the Northern Exposure presentation at the Southwest Agricultural Conference, I watched with fascination as a room full of southern Ontario farmers were captivated by Prairie agriculture. How's that, you ask? Well, farming in Ontario's "north" is far more similar to farming in Manitoba than the rest of the growing region of Ontario, and... Read More
The chairman and CEO for French food ingredient company Roquette were in Winnipeg on Wednesday to announce plans for a $400 million pea processing plant to be built near Portage la Prairie, Man. Coinciding with Global Pulse Day, Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister and Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler hosted the announcement at the Manitoba Legislative Building.... Read More
Canola seed in Canada could soon come with a label describing the variety's blackleg disease resistance package, similar to the labeling system used in Australia. After around four years of discussions between seed companies, researchers, and growers, an agreement-in-principle has been reached on blackleg resistance labeling, says Clint Jurke, agronomy director with the Canola Council... Read More
I’m a big advocate of democracy. I defend the free press globally, especially the agricultural free press, and people’s right to say what they want, as long as they don’t misuse it by slandering or scurrilously pursuing others. But when I see Donald Trump supporters flaunting slogans like Rope. Tree. Journalist. Some assembly required, as... Read More
The Canola Council of Canada has started its search for a new president, following the announcement of Patti Miller's upcoming departure. Canola Council president since 2012, Miller has been appointed chief commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission, starting February 13. She sat down with us at CropSphere in Saskatoon last week to reflect on her... Read More
Manure no-no's, cleaning corn to reduce vomitoxin levels, and trying to rush nature — this week's Wheat Pete's Word is jam-packed with answers to your toughest questions! Peter Johnson kicks of the Word with a discussion on spreading dry vs. liquid manure on snow, and then gets specific on vomi reduction on corn (including why... Read More
Agriculture is big business, but a small industry, if you think about the number of people involved. Within each sector, that number shrinks significantly, and, at times, trying to communicate the needs of one sector can be tough when you're few in number. The seed industry has faced that challenge for quite some time, and,... Read More