Fire, flooding and a drop in raspberry prices in 2018 have spurred the federal and British Columbia governments to trigger the AgriStability late-participation mechanism. Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and her provincial counterpart Lana Popham, at an event Monday in Vernon, B.C., invoked the new late-participation rule for the 2018 AgriStability program year, “to help farmers […] Read more
B.C. grants late AgriStability enrolment for 2018
U.S. grains: Wheat falls on profit-taking
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures eased 1.2 per cent on Wednesday, setting back on a mild round of profit taking after prices posted their biggest rally since last summer on Tuesday. Corn and soybeans ended higher after weakening overnight and early in the day session as traders moved to cover short positions amid […] Read more
Trump’s EPA unveils plan to pump up ethanol as Big Oil cries foul
Reuters — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday released its proposed rule lifting a summer ban on higher-ethanol blends of gasoline to help farmers, putting the agency on a collision course with Big Oil which has called the move illegal. The proposal to broaden sales of the so-called E15 rule marks the latest flashpoint […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat rallies as investors cover shorts
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures jumped 5.5 per cent on Tuesday, rebounding from contract lows on a round of technical buying and bargain hunting in an oversold market, traders said. Corn and soybeans also were higher after recent declines, but their gains paled in comparison with wheat as traders unwound bearish positions despite […] Read more
Getting the most efficient nitrogen use
Soil testing is vital to identify where nitrogen is needed
A significant amount of nitrogen applied to fields is never taken up by plants. Understanding how much nitrogen (N) crops actually need can help decrease needless expenses and potential environmental issues. Why it matters: Nitrogen loss to the environment can damage local water sources causing human health concerns and harm to aquatic life. Inefficient fertilizer […] Read more
A double-barreled approach to fleabane control
Combined herbicide-cover crop approach can provide effective control
As herbicide-resistant Canada fleabane and other problem weeds continue to frustrate farmers, more creative control solutions are being sought. Planting cover crops, specifically cereal rye is a good tactic, say researchers from the University of Guelph and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs. Why it matters: Herbicide-resistant weeds are creating more challenges […] Read more
Grain grading revamp may add falling number, DON as factors
Two significant grain specs that aren’t yet factors for a crop’s official grade are now under consideration to join that official list. The Canadian Grain Commission on Monday put out a call for “grain sector stakeholders” to submit their views before May 10 on a proposal for falling number and deoxynivalenol (DON) to both become […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat futures plunge to contract lows
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures sank 2.7 per cent to their lowest since January 2018 on Monday, pressured by plentiful stocks that were providing overseas buyers with multiple options for supplies when looking for export deals. The weakness in wheat weighed on corn, which notched its fourth straight day of declines and hit […] Read more
Trump budget proposes steep subsidy cuts to U.S. farmers
Washington | Reuters — U.S. President Donald Trump’s 2020 budget on Monday proposed a 15 per cent cut for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, calling its subsidies to farmers “overly generous” at a time when they are going through the worst crisis in decades because of depressed commodity prices and Trump’s trade tariffs. The Republican […] Read more
USDA’s latest WASDE lacks ‘market-turning’ news
MarketsFarm — There was nothing in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest world supply and demand estimates (WASDE) report that could have created major moves on commodities markets, according to an analyst. The report, issued Friday, “didn’t give us any kind of a market-turning type news,” said Steve Georgy, president of Allendale Inc. in McHenry, […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
