Jason Newton, chief economist and head of market research with Nutrien, provides a global crop market outlook to delegates attending the International Farm Management Association Congress in Saskatoon.

Global crop yields don’t match increasing demand

Sluggish production blamed on adverse weather conditions and high input costs that lead to reduced fertilizer use

Glacier FarmMedia – Rising demand and below-trend yields are causing tightness in the global supply of major crops, says one of the world’s largest crop input suppliers. Why it matters: Yields have lagged the usual trend for the past four years, leading to a tight global grain supply. The global stocks-to-use ratio for major crops, […] Read more

Photo: Reuters/Ben Nelms/File

Global crop yields have not kept up with increasing demand 

Sluggish production blamed on adverse weather conditions and high input costs that lead to reduced fertilizer use

The global stocks-to-use ratio for the major crops, excluding China, has been trending down since 2018, Jason Newton, Nutrien’s chief economist, told delegates attending the 24th International Farm Management Association Congress in Saskatoon.

“It won’t tell you how many ears of corn are in a field, but step one is to model photosynthesis from fluorescence.”

Satellite images of plants’ fluorescence can predict crop yields

Science Notes: Information could help make policy decisions, establishing crop insurance, even forecast areas of poverty

Cornell University researchers and collaborators have developed a framework that allows scientists to predict crop yield without the need for enormous amounts of high-quality data that are often scarce in developing countries, especially those facing heightened food insecurity and climate risk. In many parts of the world, crop yields are dropping, largely due to the […] Read more



(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

More local barley destined for rations, but U.S. corn still moving

Prior to drought year 2021/22, Canadian corn imports had rarely topped two million tonnes

Recently revised supply/demand tables from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada raised the forecast for domestic barley usage in the current crop year to 6.155 million tonnes. That compares with an earlier forecast of 5.471 million tonnes. If realized, that would be up by roughly 200,000 tonnes from the previous year.

A farmer in China piles wheat.  Photo: Reuters/File

China to push for higher grain yields to ensure food security

Chinese corn breeders are preparing to double the amount of GMO corn planted next year

China, the world's top buyer of soy and corn, will push for higher grain yields across large areas of farmland as it seeks to ensure food security for its huge population, state media reported on Wednesday, citing an annual rural policy meeting.


Are yield and sustainability natural enemies?

Are yield and sustainability natural enemies?

For the farmer, maximizing production might not be the best strategy

Productivity has long been the main focus of agricultural research in Canada – more bushels of grain, more pounds of beef, more litres of milk, all in aid of competitiveness and profitability. Now there’s a new research priority on the block: sustainability, which often clashes with the deeply held belief that yield should dominate. In […] Read more

Pushing soybean yields a constant refrain

Pushing soybean yields a constant refrain

Trends and research indicate maturity and season length are most important

As the cash price on soybeans holds just under $20 per bushel, growers want to know how to push yields higher. That was the message they wanted to hear as the Ontario Agricultural Conference began Jan.4. The event began with “Sizzlin’ Soybeans!” with Horst Bohner, soybean specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and […] Read more