China’s agricultural future: Adopt developed technologies

China is a grudging importer of corn and pork, preferring instead to increase domestic production 


As the most populous nation on Earth, China has intermittently been seen as the solution to the problem created by the ability of U.S. farmers to produce more than they can sell at a profitable price. Sometimes the discussion is focused on cotton; at other times it is corn or soybeans. Today, it is pork



Waste not, want not

Every year we hear the stories — the farmer who lost a bin full of canola to spoilage, or the one who lost his sunflowers — and the bin — after the crop overheated and caught fire. Or the farmer who opened his grain bag to find an infested, rotting mess after birds or rodents

Crop holding its own as rainy weather continues

Provincial Summary:  Seeding progress in Manitoba is estimated to be 98 per cent complete. Some reseeding is still occurring.  Generally, the condition of most crop types is rated as good.  Heavy rains in some areas of Manitoba have resulted in ponding and saturated soil conditions, mainly in the lower and poorly drained areas of the


Fuzzy ending stocks picture supports canola values

Canola prices at the ICE Futures Canada trading platform closed the week ended June 8 on a firmer footing. Canola was underpinned by the need of domestic processors to cover nearby commitments and by the general strength displayed by the Chicago soybean complex. Growing concern about the tight global oilseed ending stocks picture, for this

Higher prices lure farmers

Reuters / Canadian farmers intend to plant nearly a million acres more wheat than the industry expected in the first year of an open grain market, along with a record-large canola crop, Statistics Canada reported late last month in its initial forecast of 2012 planting intentions. Drier-than-normal weather in Western Canada, stretching back to last


Letters — for 2012-06-14 00:00:00

Ritz explains checkoff details Regarding the May 31 story “KAP questions checkoff administrator — last month, as part of our government’s commitment to deliver marketing freedom to western wheat and barley growers, I announced proposed regulations enabling a new, voluntary producer checkoff that will be overseen by the Alberta Barley Commission, in support of research, market



Dryness a growing concern for crops in U.S. Midwest

chicago / reuters / The U.S. Midwest will see little rain over the next week to 10 days, but moderate temperatures will help slow deterioration of corn and soybean crop conditions, an agricultural meteorologist said June 4. “It’s not the best of forecasts, but the fact there will not be any extreme heat will marginalize

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