Dr. Digvir Jayas. (University of Manitoba photo)

Acclaimed Manitoba stored grain researcher now Alberta bound

Digvir Jayas named president at University of Lethbridge

A leading Canadian researcher and expert in safe storage of grain is headed westbound and up to the head office at another Prairie university. Dr. Digvir Jayas, currently on sabbatical as professor and vice-president (research and international) at the University of Manitoba, will become president and vice-chancellor at the University of Lethbridge effective July 1

Crops capable of fixing their own N from the atmosphere avoid the issue of nitrous oxide emissions altogether.

Plant pulse crops for lower emissions

More pulses? Less nitrous oxide: Avoid the emissions problem altogether by growing more nitrogen-fixing crops

Mario Tenuta, a soil science professor at the University of Manitoba and research chair in 4R nutrient management, wants to see more nitrogen-fixing legumes in Prairie field crops. After all, one way to avoid nitrous oxide emissions is planting crops that need little or no commercial nitrogen. “When any form of nitrogen is added to


A view of BHP’s potash mine project north of Jansen, Sask. (BHP.com)

Feds back BHP potash mine for sustainable tech

Fund to provide $100M for electrifying equipment

Major miner BHP’s potash mine-in-progress in Saskatchewan has picked up $100 million in federal funding to go toward investments in low-emissions equipment. Federal Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne on Monday announced BHP’s Saskatoon-based Canadian arm will get backing from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) for the mine at Jansen, Sask., about

Wheat being loaded onto a cargo ship in Vancouver in 2011. (File photo: Reuters/Ben Nelms)

China top destination for Canadian grains, oilseeds

CGC data points to key destinations

MarketsFarm — China is the top destination for Canadian grain and oilseed exports through the first five months of the 2022-23 marketing year, accounting for roughly a third of the total movement, according to the latest monthly report from the Canadian Grain Commission. Canada has exported 6.566 million tonnes of grains, oilseeds, and pulses to



ICE March 2023 canola with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: Choppy trading for canola, other oilseeds

Signals not pointing to course change for now

MarketsFarm — Expect canola and other oilseed markets to remain choppy for the time being, according to trader Ken Ball of PI Financial in Winnipeg. “All of the markets are very choppy and erratic. They’re very nervous markets,” Ball emphasized, noting war in Ukraine and drought in Argentina are having some of the biggest impacts


(Pabradyphoto/iStock/Getty Images)

CBOT weekly outlook: Weather outweighs U.S. Fed rate hike announcement

'People are returning to the Argentine situation'

MarketsFarm — Week-long rallies for grain futures on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) were disrupted by the U.S. Federal Reserve’s latest key interest rate announcement on Wednesday. The Fed revealed it is raising its key interest rate by 25 basis points in its ongoing fight against inflation. While the central bank acknowledged inflation is

CBOT March 2023 soybeans with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soy sags as Brazil’s harvest looms

Wheat mixed, corn ends firm

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures fell about one per cent on Wednesday as traders focused on the expanding harvest of a likely record-large soy crop in Brazil and positioned for the U.S. Federal Reserve’s decision on interest rates, analysts said. Wheat futures ended mixed, with the most-active March contract down on profit-taking, while


There seems to be some correlation between certain zero-till practices and soil acidification.

Soil acidity a growing issue

Over time a natural chemical reaction to nitrogen can cause an acidic band to develop

Most of Manitoba’s soils are considered to be neutral, with pH around 7.0 and being neither acid nor alkaline. If anything there’s a tendency towards the alkaline. That’s why North Dakota State University cropping systems specialist Ryan Buetow’s warning at the recent Manitoba Agronomists’ Conference was unexpected. He says there are pockets of acidity showing

(Bayer.com)

Bayer under investor pressure to speed up CEO changeover

Drug and chem firm's stock in 'crisis of trust,' investor says

Frankfurt | Reuters — A top-10 shareholder in Bayer on Tuesday called on the group’s supervisory board to replace CEO Werner Baumann quickly, adding to investor pressure to restore trust and revive the German drugmaker’s sagging share price. Despite recent improvements in the company’s agriculture business and drug development prospects, Bayer shares have been weighed