CNS Canada — Saskatchewan farmers are expected to turn in a smaller pulse harvest this fall, although chickpea production is bucking the overall downward trend. Chickpeas are the only Saskatchewan pulse crop to post a production increase, in Statistics Canada’s latest estimate of 2018 production. The estimates show Saskatchewan growers are expected to harvest about

Pulse weekly outlook: Chickpeas buck pulse trend

Feed weekly outlook: Alberta feedlots prepared for supply issues
CNS Canada — Many regions of the Prairies expect some feed shortages this year, but Alberta feedlots have plans ready to deal with those issues. Bryan Walton, CEO of the Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association, said overall conditions appear decent, although producers in drier areas have silaged barley rather than wait for harvest because of lighter

Feed weekly outlook: Healthy exports, dry conditions offset harvest pricing pressure on Prairie feed grains
CNS Canada — Farmers’ urgency to sell off the combine is pressuring Western Canadian feed grain prices, but the weight is not as heavy as usual. “It feels like we’re seeing all producers wanting movement right away here, and that’s kind of putting some downward pressure on the price,” said Nelson Neumann, a junior trader

Manitoba soy growers likely face light yields
CNS Canada — Manitoba soybeans will be ready for harvest well ahead of normal, provincial pulse crop specialist Dennis Lange said, fresh from fields where he was conducting maturity ratings. He said he was out around Morris on Tuesday and some soybean varieties there are already nearing full maturity. Throughout Manitoba, farmers could be taking

Wheat trade hoping for big export year
CNS Canada –– Canadian wheat growers could find themselves popular with international buyers this winter, as world wheat stocks hit lows not seen for a decade. Marlene Boersch, managing partner at Mercantile Consulting Venture, said the present 26-day wheat supply available to world markets, once China’s stockpiles are removed from the equation, should boost prices

Pulse weekly outlook: Manitoba bean quality looks good
CNS Canada — The quality of Manitoba’s edible bean crop appears decent, but yields will remain a mystery for a week or two. Dennis Lange, pulse specialist for Manitoba Agriculture at Altona, Man., said most edible beans are maturing about two weeks ahead of normal, but yield estimates will have to wait for more harvest

Railways say they’re ready for large shipping season
CNS Canada — Canadian Pacific Railway managed to slightly increase its grain shipping volumes last year, despite the extreme cold. CP moved 25.8 million tonnes of western Canadian grain, grain products, soybeans and non-regulated principal field crops during the 2017-18 crop year. That’s a one per cent increase from the previous crop year and one

Durum markets rattled as harvest set to start
CNS Canada — With the durum wheat harvest rapidly approaching in Western Canada, many analysts wonder how the dry conditions and extreme heat will affect yields. Yet there is one aspect about this year’s crop they already know. Increased seeded acreage this spring, and market access problems hindering longer-term durum sales, mean farmers might want

Hemp growers eye new markets for 2018
CNS Canada — Hemp producers across Western Canada will potentially gain access to lucrative new markets thanks to changes for this year’s harvest. For the first time, hemp growers are allowed to harvest their plants’ buds, leaves and flowers, after receiving an exemption from Health Canada. The market opportunities will be significant, said Ted Haney,
Rye production could fall 25 per cent, analyst says
CNS Canada — This year’s Canadian rye harvest appears positioned to carry on the crop’s recent trend with another production decline. Dry conditions in many regions of the Prairies and ergot in Manitoba are expected to drive down yields. Jonathan Hull of The Scoular Co. said he has been hearing from farmers that yields could