Winter wheat can germinate in spring

There are reports circulating of agronomists telling producers to reseed winter wheat fields that have just germinated this spring. As I understand, it is related to the process of vernalization and whether it has occurred or not. Last fall I wrote a Crops eNews article titled “What Happens if My Winter Wheat Didn’t Emerge?” –

Dominoes starting to fall as end of single desk draws nearer

Research and market development, keeping an eye on the railways, 
and the fate of short line railways are just three of the issues KAP is trying to address

Manitoba’s farm leaders are scrambling to plug holes that will be left by the demise of the single-desk CWB. Research and market development, keeping an eye on the railways, and the fate of short lines were high on the agenda when Keystone Agricultural Producers delegates gathered at their General Council meeting last week. But challenges


Canadian forage exports remain strong

Commodity News Service Canada / Solid U.S. demand and interest from China are keeping Canadian forage exports firm, but higher transportation costs and competition from the U.S. Midwest may limit the upside potential, says Wayne Digby of the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association. The easing of drought conditions in the southern U.S. could lessen demand, but



Freezing temperatures drop on Kansas wheat fields

reuters / Potentially crop-damaging freezing temperatures descended on to western Kansas early April 16, where the new crop of hard red winter wheat was maturing rapidly, but wheat experts said the wheat likely held up well. “It can tolerate some pretty cool temperatures with little or no damage,” said Kansas State University agronomist Jim Shroyer.

Trader sees Ukraine grain exports soaring by 2019

Ukraine harvested a record 56.7 million tonnes of grain in 2011 and the yield stood at 3.7 tonnes per hectare

Reuters / Ukraine could increase its grain exports to about 35 million tonnes by 2019 from about 20 million in the current season by boosting both the sowing area and yields, a large foreign grain trading house said March 14. Ivan Miroshnichenko, Black Sea regional director for Noble Resources Ukraine, told an international agricultural business


Canada barley trade losing ground to Argentina

Reuters / Canada’s barley exports have dwindled to a fraction of their former might, as Argentina muscles in on trade and domestic cattle feedlots offer farmers better prices than exporters. Through March 25, Canada was on pace for exports of 1.3 million tonnes in 2011-12 similar to the past two marketing years, according to Canadian Grain

North Dakota wheat and durum acreage to rise

Improved planting conditions will allow North Dakota farmers to seed more spring wheat and durum this spring, but corn will likely steal away potential acres. “Obviously (wheat) acres will be higher, just because so much was not planted last year,” said Jim Peterson, marketing director with the North Dakota Wheat Commission. Five million acres of


Japan to import less food wheat in 2012-13

Reuters / Japan, the world’s fifth-biggest wheat importer, plans to buy 6.5 per cent less foreign food wheat in the year to March 2013 in anticipation of higher local production, helped by government initiatives to lift food self-sufficiency. A panel of experts approved a plan March 28 by the Ministry of Agriculture to buy 4.78 million

Latest seeding estimates add another 600,000 acres for canola

Reuters / Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has slightly raised its forecast for canola plantings, while trimming its wheat estimate. Dry conditions heading into planting season are expected to boost plantings of most major crops, after flooding wiped out millions of acres last year. The latest estimate pegs canola acreage at nearly 20.4 million acres, up