Vegetation growth index for the Prairie provinces compared to average as of May 26. (CCAP)

Canadian crop development behind average

MarketsFarm — Crop development is running behind average across much of Canada, with excessive moisture delaying seeding in Ontario and dryness slowing crop development across the Prairies. That’s according to the latest satellite data from the federal Crop Condition Assessment Program (CCAP), created in partnership between Statistics Canada and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Crop development […] Read more


DON caused by corn ear infections significantly reduced the value of the 2018 Ontario corn crop.

DON-forecasting tool funded

Governments help to pay costs to set up computerized monitoring system

The federal and provincial governments are supporting the creation of an early-warning and risk assessment system for deoxynivalenol (DON). Grain Farmers of Ontario is leading the project which will work similarly to a DON-forecasting system in place for years for wheat in the province. That system monitors weather conditions to predict DON risk, which helps […] Read more

Kansas City July 2019 wheat with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: CBOT wheat rallies on weather

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures rallied on Monday on concerns about harvest risks as more heavy rain was forecast in some U.S. grain belts and warm, dry weather was expected in top wheat exporter Russia. Meanwhile, corn and soybean futures traded choppily as the markets digested a threat of U.S. tariffs against Mexico, […] Read more

Jim Smolik, shown here in a 2014 photo, contravened two sections of the Conflict of Interest Act, Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion says in a report released May 30, 2019. (Manitoba Co-operator photo by Allan Dawson)

Former CGC assistant chief commissioner broke conflict rules

Jim Smolik, a former Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) assistant chief and acting chief commissioner, contravened post-employment obligations under the federal Conflict of Interest Act while working for Cargill Canada. That’s according to a 24-page report released May 30 by Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion. Dion ruled Smolik breached Sections 33 and 35(2) […] Read more



(Canada Border Services Agency video screengrab)

Mexico, Canada plow ahead on trade pact ratification despite Trump threats

Mexico City/Ottawa | Reuters — Mexico and Canada said on Friday they would proceed with plans to ratify a new continental trade pact despite a new threat from U.S. President Donald Trump that critics say could undermine chances of the treaty coming into force. Trump, whose administration has made passing the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) free […] Read more

The Big River Resources ethanol plant at West Burlington, Iowa, about 120 km southwest of Davenport. (Steven Vaughn photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Trump lifts curbs on E15 gasoline

Washington | Reuters — The Trump administration on Friday lifted restrictions on the sale of higher ethanol blends of gasoline, keeping a campaign promise to farmers suffering from the trade war with China but inviting a legal challenge from the oil industry. The announcement allows gasoline stations to sell blends containing up to 15 per […] Read more


More rain for Ontario fields sees less planted acres, so far

Ontario Field Crop Report for the week of May 27

There was widespread rainfall over the weekend with most areas receiving 1 to 6 inches of rain on Saturday. It’s raining again today. Heavy downpours caused erosion and flooding around Parkhill, Tavistock, Lucan, and Embro just to name a few areas. Fields are saturated and there is little chance of field work until the end […] Read more

CBOT July 2019 wheat with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat, corn, soy rally on weather woes

Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. corn futures rose 4.1 per cent on Thursday, bouncing back from some technical weakness on Wednesday as traders focused on the historic slow pace of planting in the Midwest. Prices, which hit their highest in nearly three years this week, needed to continue to rally to entice farmers to seed […] Read more