Move western grain, ASAP. That’s the blunt and urgent message Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) president Dan Mazier told an emergency meeting of the House of Commons’ agriculture committee Monday in Ottawa. The 2013-14 grain shipping backlog cost Western farmers around $6.5 billion and the current one will cost billions again, Mazier said. The first step […] Read more
Get grain moving again, KAP says
Industry still looking for new NH3 tank rule break
Fertilizer Canada and the Canadian Association of Agri-Retailers (CAAR) say there will be enough anhydrous ammonia nurse tanks available to supply the fertilizer to farmers during this growing season. New Transport Canada regulations came into force Jan. 12, which affect the frequency of hydrostatic testing and visual inspection of ammonia nurse and applicator tanks and […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat tumbles as rains cross drought-hit Plains
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures slid to six-week lows on Monday as much-needed rain and snow fell in dry areas of the southern Plains, pushing most-active K.C. hard red winter wheat futures down more than five per cent, traders said. Corn and soybean futures sagged on fund-driven long liquidation and as weekend rains […] Read more
Community to ‘transform’ Guelph’s Kemptville ag campus
The home municipality for Ontario Agricultural College’s (OAC) former Kemptville campus is set to remake the site as an “education and community hub.” The municipality of North Grenville, which includes Kemptville, about 40 km south of Ottawa, closed a deal in December to purchase the Kemptville ag campus, with the official transfer due to take […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat drops on forecast for rains
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago wheat futures dropped to a 2-1/2-week low on Friday on outlooks for rains by this weekend that should alleviate stress on some crops in the parched U.S. Plains growing region, traders said. CBOT May contract wheat settled down 11 cents at $4.67-3/4 per bushel, bringing the losses for the week […] Read more
Lessons from farm data innovators
Where do you start with data management on crop farms? Three farmers who use data extensively say to start with what you can manage and make sure that the system is set up from the start to supply quality data into whatever system you choose to manage it. Why it matters: Sensors and better recording […] Read more
Seed Synergy project gets federal funding
The project has brought together six organizations representing the seed sector
The federal government is investing $760,000 in Canada’s seed sector, to help modernize seed regulations and enhance global marketing. Much of the funding will be used to continue the work of the Seed Synergy Collaboration Project which is currently creating a new vision for seed sector regulation in Canada. Why it matters: Canada’s seed production […] Read more
U.S. grains: Chicago wheat sharply lower in technical sell-off
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade wheat fell nearly two per cent on Thursday in a technical sell-off amid outlooks for rain in the parched U.S. Plains crop belt, traders and analysts said. Disappointing weekly U.S. wheat export sales added to headwinds, with CBOT May wheat dropping 10 cents to $4.78-3/4 per bushel, […] Read more
K+S expects earnings gain from Saskatchewan mine
Frankfurt | Reuters — German potash miner K+S vowed to increase earnings significantly this year, as it ramps up production at its new Bethune, Sask. mine and after temporary restrictions on waste water at its main domestic mine were lifted. Revenues would be tangibly higher and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) would […] Read more
Walmart patents hint at future where its drones tend the farms
New York/Chicago | Reuters — Walmart’s patent filings hint that it may see a future where farmers use its drones to not only spot crop problems but selectively apply chemicals or even disperse pollen to bring shoppers the freshest and cheapest food possible. The world’s largest retailer applied for six patents last year on drones […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
