In Brief… – for Jul. 1, 2010

Out of time: Wet conditions limited planting by Western Canadian farmers this spring to only 82 per cent of the original planned acreage, the Canadian Wheat Board said June 21. The final crop insurance deadlines passed on June 20. Farmers are expected to plant their smallest acreage of wheat, durum and barley in decades and



Early-Season Scouting Pays Off

Early scouting can help ensure canola crops make it through the first few weeks in good shape. “With the wet conditions, many growers across the Prairies are struggling to get all their canola acres seeded. In the rush to finish seeding, they must remember to scout those fields that have already emerged,” says Troy Prosofsky,

Canola, Soybean Farmers Oppose Market Access Bill

Genetically engineered seeds have been a boon to canola and soybean farmers and Ottawa shouldn’t impose non-scientific evaluations on future varieties, representatives of oilseed growers told the Commons agriculture committee last week. The committee is holding hearings on a bill presented by NDP farm spokesman Alex Atamanenko to require a market analysis of new GE


New Soybean Could Cut Into High-Stability Canola Oil Markets

“The story of canola is it has always been able to keep one step ahead of soybeans.” – David Dzisiak High-oleic canola oil, most of it from Canada, has dominated the growing North American demand for healthier, non-trans fat, deep-frying oils, but American soybeans are fighting back. Last month the United States Department of Agriculture

Will Bill C-474 Kill Research?

Will the private sector bow out of crop research if Bill C-474 becomes law? Some industry and farm organizations warn NDP MP Alex Atamanenko’s private member’s bill to require a market impact assessment before new technology is approved will have that result. If private companies pull out, or even cut back on research, it would


Demand Supports Canola Against Good Weather

For three-times-daily market reports from Resource News International, visit “ICE Futures Canada updates” at www.manitobacooperator.ca ICE Futures Canada canola contracts finally broke out of their longtime flat trading range during the week ended May 14, but rather than seeing the upward jump that many farmers had been holding out for, canola turned weaker and set

New Canola Hybrids

DEKALB has received registration on six new canola hybrids from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). The new 73 Series will be available on a limited basis this spring with wide distribution planned for the 2011 growing season, the company announced in a release. “With the introduction of our new 73 Series, DEKALB brand now


Voluntary Better Than Legislated

Thousand Seed Weight (grams) Estimated Canola Plant Populations Under Various Seeding Conditions To maximize yield, ideal plant populations range from seven to 14 plants/ft2. At any set seeding rate (lb./ac.), the typical average for emergence is around 50 per cent depending on field conditions. The plant population will also be affected by seed size, measured

Canola-Seeding Tips

“The weeds that emerge earlier in the crop are generally the ones that cause the greatest amount of yield loss.” – JOHN MAYKO Before hitting the field here are 10 agronomic tips on seeding canola from John Mayko, a senior agronomy specialist with the Canola Council of Canada. 1) Make sure your equipment is ready.