Steve Rooke of Shark Farms Ltd. near Nanton, Alta., climbs onto to his tractor pulling a Morris Quantum 60 drill and tank during a recent demonstration of Morris seeding equipment organized by Viterra near High River, Alta. Seeding was 90 per cent complete in Alberta as of May 27, ahead of the five-year average of 81 per cent. Photo: Mike Sturk

Most crops off to good start

Some parts of the Prairies are very dry, but provincial crop specialists say it’s still early in the season

Some parts of the Prairies are very dry, but provincial crop specialists say it's still early in the season


Photo: Allan Dawson/File

Seeding at halfway mark in Saskatchewan

Good weather aids planting

Favourable weather has allowed Saskatchewan farmers to make good seeding progress, with 49 per cent of intended acres in the ground as of May 12, according to the latest provincial report. That's up from 31 per cent the previous week and compares with the five-year average of 32 per cent.

Soybeans in Grey County

Soybean planting extension granted

Agricorp is extending the soybean planting deadline for areas of Ontario from June 30 to July 2. Essex, Chatham-Kent, Lambton, Elgin, Middlesex, Norfolk, Haldimand, Brant and Niagara counties were provided with the two-day grace period due to wet weather creating difficult planting conditions. Agricorp expects an influx of phone calls related to the delayed planting […] Read more


One planter can be used for multiple crops, but success depends on farm size and soil types.

Can your farm make do with one planter?

It is possible to grow longer rotations with one planter, but it’s a challenge

Advances in technology and plant breeding make it possible to manage with just one planter, but it can be a challenge to maximize yields when doing so. Differences in soil types, region and row spacing from crop to crop are primary considerations. Most growers find the 7.5-inch row spacing in wheat to be the main […] Read more


File photo of a soybean plantation in Brazil. (Mailson Pignata/iStock/Getty Images)

Brazil’s second corn crop facing delays

Acres either too dry or too wet for planting

MarketsFarm — There remained little doubt that Brazil’s corn safrinha (second) crop will be smaller than initially anticipated, according to Dr. Michael Cordonnier of Soybean and Corn Advisor Inc. He chalked up most of that due to conditions being too dry and too wet for the planting of Brazil’s soybean crop, depending on the region. […] Read more


Photo: Thinkstock

Pulse weekly outlook: recent rains could stabilize crops 

Prices for pulses across Western Canada have been steady

Marketsfarm – Despite the rain the Canadian Prairies received since July 17, MarketsFarm Pro analyst Mike Jubinville pointed out that the major pulse crop areas got very little.  While any precipitation has been beneficial to this year’s crops struggling with dry conditions, Jubinville said, it won’t help that much.  “In terms of advancing pea and […] Read more

Wheat in progress west of Pathlow, Sask. on Aug. 1, 2022. (Dave Bedard photo)

Canadian canola, wheat area up on the year: StatCan

More soybean, corn acres also estimated

MarketsFarm — Canadian farmers planted more canola than earlier intentions, according to updated acreage estimates from Statistics Canada released Wednesday. Meanwhile, wheat plantings hit their highest level in more than two decades. Total canola plantings were estimated at 22.1 million acres by the government agency, which compares with the 21.6 million expected in April and […] Read more