Prairie canola growers should be scouting their fields "immediately" as populations of bertha armyworm are nearing economic thresholds to spray, the Canola Council of Canada warns in Grainews' CropWatch. Hot, dry weather has been "favourable" to the insect's numbers, the council said, noting some growers in Manitoba, eastern Saskatchewan and the Peace region have already[...]
CropWatch: Armyworm counts near thresholds
AAFC forecast cuts wheat outlook, maintains canola
Canada’s agriculture department has lowered its forecast for wheat production in its grain and oilseed outlook. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada pegged the 2011-12 all-wheat crop at 23 million tonnes, down from its July estimate for 24 million tonnes. Crop development is one to two weeks behind normal, but warm weather has accelerated growth. Spring wheat […] Read more
Pea prices sharply higher from year ago
The run-up in commodity prices over the last year has not left peas by the wayside, as the value of both yellow and green peas has seen a sharp jump over the last 12 months. According to data from Prairie Ag Hotwire, elevator bids for green peas are bringing as much as $8.75 per bushel, […] Read more
Feds fund Cargill for waste processing at High River
The federal government has announced a grant of $10 million to Cargill Meat Solutions for its plant at High River, Alberta.The funds are for purchase and installation of new equipment designed to safely dispose of specified risk materials (SRM), landfill trash, and compost material to produce energy, while producing energy in the form of steam[...]
Generally good conditions in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan livestock producers continue to make good haying progress and now have 73 per cent of the hay crop cut. Fifty one per cent of the hay crop has been baled or put into silage according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s weekly Crop Report. Haying progress varies across the province, ranging from 81 per cent cut in […] Read more
Alberta crops varied, but good overall – analyst
Crop conditions are varied across Alberta, although the overall picture is looking good with no real significant areas of concern, according to a provincial specialist. “The crops are variable, some are right on-time and some are late,” said Neil Whatley, crop specialist with the Alberta Ag Info Centre. He said heat in recent weeks has helped […] Read more
Pickup manufacturers show off their new wares
City folks like that new-car smell, but for farmers, it's the aroma of a new pickup that has the most appeal, and some of our writers recently had the opportunity to sniff around some new offerings.Ford was somehow able to pry away Manitoba Co-operator editor Laura Rance from her 1995 Dodge Ram 2500 V-10 4x4[...]
Late blight threat edges closer to Manitoba
Late blight has been reported last week from southern Pembina County, which is in the northeast of North Dakota and adjacent to south-eastern Manitoba and north-western Minnesota, Manitoba's extension plant pathologist Vikram Bisht says in the weekly Potato News issued July 26. With widespread rain July 23 and thunderstorm expected this week, there will be[...]
CWB Farmer Directors to Hold Producer Meetings
Farmer directors for the Canadian Wheat Board will host six meetings across the Prairies in August to discuss the board's fate if the federal government proceeds with proposed changes to its single desk monopoly. "As farmers, we are at the 11th hour and facing a monumental change," said CWB board chair Allen Oberg, who farms[...]
Please don’t bring these in your baggage
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is urging travellers to be mindful of the role they play in keeping Canada free of serious foreign animal diseases. “Travellers should be extra vigilant at the border in light of recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in Asia, classical swine fever in Europe, and African swine fever in Russia. While[...]
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