Widespread frost early May 30 caused minimal damage

Weekly Provincial Summary  The only remaining acres left to be seeded include greenfeed and millet crops and some isolated acres of canola, edible beans and soybeans.  Reseeding of some fields is still occurring as stands were impacted by either high winds, insect activity, disease, seed placement or dry soil conditions at time of seeding.  Most

A classic head and shoulders confirmed downturn

To those less familiar with charting and technical analysis, the recent drop in oat prices may have come as a bit of a surprise. What I have found in my 30 years’ experience, is that even though the oat futures market has a relatively small amount of open interest compared to actively traded commodities such


AAFC clarifies checkoff administrator’s authority

The federal government plans to sign an agreement with the Alberta Barley Commission to dictate how farmers’ money collected from the proposed new interim wheat and barley checkoff for research and market development is spent. “ABC and AAFC (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) intend to enter into an agreement that will specify what dollars-per-tonne amounts that

Viterra shareholders back Glencore

Reuters / Shareholders of Canada’s largest grain handler, Viterra Inc., voted overwhelmingly May 29 in favour of a friendly takeover bid by Swiss commodities trader Glencore International Plc., pushing the biggest deal in years for the global agricultural sector closer to reality. The deal was supported by 99.8 per cent of shareholders, far more than


CWB producer contracts change

CWB is advising Prairie farmers that important changes have been made to CWB permit and contract processes for the 2012-13 crop year. These changes have been made to streamline CWB processes for the new marketing environment and align with new IT system requirements. Landlords and interested parties who share in a producer’s returns can no

New fungicide options available this year

There are a couple new fungicide combinations available to Manitoba farmers this year and perhaps a new one if final regulatory approval comes in time. BASF’s Twinline combines the active ingredients in the fungicides Headline (Group 11) and Caramba (Group 3) into one jug. The product controls a number of cereal diseases including leaf, stem


KAP questions checkoff administrator

The Keystone Agricultural Producers is miffed over a federal decision to appoint the Alberta Barley Commission as administrator for the new interim checkoff on western wheat and barley. “I can’t see why KAP couldn’t have handled it or why the Canola Growers or Corn Growers couldn’t,” KAP president Doug Chorney said in an interview last

Rust arrives ahead of usual

Leaf rust appears to be showing up on winter and spring cereals earlier than usual this year, Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives May 25 insect and disease report says. There have been reports of rust on spring and winter wheat in the Dauphin-Grandview area. “It is unknown whether the pathogen overwintered in the area


Letters, May 31, 2012

Incorrect attribution on quote The CGC has been contacted by Mr. Bill Toews who advised that he is concerned about the attribution of a statement in the feature on the CGC’s 100th anniversary printed in the Manitoba Co-operator, Alberta Farmer Express and Grainews. In the piece entitled CGC guarantees Canadian grain quality worldwide, the quote,

Ottawa appealed ruling against Ritz on CWB Act

The Federal Court of Appeal reserved its decision May 23 after hearing the federal government’s appeal of a ruling last year that Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz broke the law by not consulting with farmers before ending the Canadian Wheat Board single desk. The Appeal Court hasn’t signalled when it will render a decision. But its