Last crop year Canada exported 70,000 tonnes of wheat and 135,000 tonnes of barley to Saudi Arabia.

Saudi sanctions add to market access woes

The list of customers trying to block Canadian grain is a growing concern to the industry

Saudi Arabia isn’t a big Canadian grain customer, but Canada’s grain sector isn’t happy about losing access to it in the wake of a diplomatic spat sparked by Canada’s criticism of Saudi Arabia’s poor human rights record. “I think we really do need to see a focus from all government agencies and departments that they

One agronomist says that in order to grow a more uniform stand with greater yield, winter wheat growers should aim for 33 plants a square foot.

Setting up for success as planting season approaches for winter wheat

Winter wheat specialists anticipating another dry seeding season have some advice on the best recipe for success

Manitoba’s winter wheat woes this year may have some lessons for the coming crop. Ken Gross, agronomist with the Western Winter Wheat Initiative, says fields that survived their dry planting, harsh winter and hot, dry, growing season this year might offer insight for what will likely be similarly moisture-starved conditions this fall. Winter wheat acreage


The Canada 150 emblem in a durum field. (Agr.gc.ca)

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



Photo: File

Early harvest pressures Prairie barley prices

CNS Canada — Barley prices in Western Canada are falling as an early harvest is weighing on values. “Prices have moderated here,” said Allen Pirness of Market Place Commodities Ltd. Lethbridge, Alta. The surprise rally from last week ended as quickly as it began. Prices which started last week at about C$250 per tonne were



Manitoba Agriculture’s Rejean Picard says half of a crop rotation should still be cereals.

Cereals getting shortchanged

How much of your rotation is still in cereals? If it’s less than 50 per cent, you may be short

When it comes to getting cereals into the ground Manitoba seems to be coming up short. Provincial specialists say at least half a farm’s arable acres should be planted to these crops, but that’s rarely the case these days. According to MASC data, less than 40 per cent of crop acres in Manitoba were planted

Academics say GM wheat possible subversion

Academics say GM wheat possible subversion

No one has offered an explanation for wheat to appear after 17 years, and far from its original plot

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency needs to keep investigating the still-unknown variety of genetically modified wheat found in Alberta last year, says the Canadian co-author of an article that speculates on who could have planted it. Rob Wager of Vancouver Island University, who specializes in biochemistry and molecular biology, is the co-author of ‘The Mystery


Photo: File

Saskatchewan harvest underway: Report

CNS Canada – Harvest operations are underway in parts of southern Saskatchewan, according to the weekly crop report from Saskatchewan Agriculture. Crops were reportedly rapidly drying down across the province, with many pulse crops being desiccated. Most crops remain in fair to excellent condition, although later-seeded crops need rain to help heads and pods fill,