Crops briefs, Jan. 12

Drought dents Brazil crops Sao Paulo/Reuters/ Two important Brazilian corn and soy producers Parana and Rio Grande do Sul made sharp cuts to crop forecasts Jan. 5 after weeks of harsh, dry weather dented prospects for a soy crop that as recently as this week some still expected to be a record. Brazil’s biggest soy

South American weather shakes up corn, soybeans

Canola futures on the ICE Futures Canada trading platform managed to trend upward over the holiday period ended Jan. 6. Steady demand from the commercial sector provided some of the strength with weather issues in the oilseed-growing areas of South America contributing to the upward momentum. Fresh export business with China further underpinned canola values.


Doggerel 2012: Freedom, Edam…?

Yes, with the first issue of the year, it’s once again surely Time to review the events of the past one, in verse that rhymes poorly Then if there’s some time, and to the end that you’ve stickted We’ll look ahead a few months and see what I’ve predicted I don’t want to brag, but

Winter wheat can help you manage your time and risk

When Lee Moats’ grandfather began farming in 1910, near Riceton, Sask., the soil was rich and fertile, and required little more than occasional summerfallow to produce bountiful crops of wheat and other cereal grains. Moats’ father was a wheat grower too, although by the 1960s, the soil’s fertility was running low. Today, as the third


Letters

Say goodbye to blending benefits Recently, at the Strudwick farm east of Regina, a farm building full of open marketers got the news they wanted. Starting in the new crop year, they will be able to market their own wheat and barley. Former Western Canadian Wheat Growers president, (Cherilyn Jolly-Nagel was elated.) Under the bright

Practical fusarium management tips

Neil Galbraith takes an integrated approach to managing fusarium head blight on his farm at Minnedosa. He shared his techniques at the 7th Canadian Workshop on Fusarium Head Blight in Winnipeg recently. Most of the conference speakers were scientists often delivering highly technical information. Galbraith provided a view from the field. Wheat variety selection, seeding


CWB final payments for 2010-11

The Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) has issued final payments to farmers for the wheat, durum wheat and barley they delivered to the CWB pools during the 2010-11 crop year. These payments represent the balance of the money owing to farmers after their grain has been marketed through the CWB pools, and after operating costs have

CTA issues revenue cap report

Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) exceeded what it’s allowed to earn hauling western Canadian grain to port by $1.25 million last crop year (2010-11), while Canadian National (CN), was $913,447 under. The results didn’t surprise Ian McCreary, a former Canadian Wheat Board elected director and farmer at Bladworth, Sask. “Rail competition just isn’t there,” he said



How Euro zone uncertainty affects wheat markets

Charting and technical analysis may be likened to reading a price road map where patterns form on the chart representing the road signs. If one is going to undertake a study of charts, it is imperative to learn the signs and their implications for prices. Classic formations, once identified, will point the way, signal caution,