This late, difficult harvest is going to have some wide-ranging ramifications. Seeding plans for winter wheat are being disrupted. Many producers had hoped to seed winter wheat on land that didn’t get seeded this spring. As it turns out, many of those acres are still too wet. And there aren’t many fields of canola harvested yet. That’s prime stubble for seeding winter wheat. The bad harvest weather could also have an impact on seed availability for next spring. This may be especially true on pulse crops where quality is taking a beating and more acres that usual will be sprayed pre-harvest with glyphosate which will harm seed germination. Expect more marketing problems than usual. Although there aren’t many cereal crops harvested yet, there are many reports of severe disease problems including fusarium head blight and ergot that make crops harder to sell. Expect more processing of crops in an attempt to remedy problems. For instance, chickpeas are facing a serious frost threat. There could be a big demand for colour sorters to remove the distinctly green seeds and improve the grade. And, of course, expect extensive use of aeration fans and grain driers and the corresponding bills for power, natural gas and propane. I’m Kevin Hursh.
DynAgra, an independent Western Canada-based Company, is dedicated to providing growers with the tools to manage the risk and maximize the profitability of their farm business through the continued innovation of agricultural products and services. We are committed to developing and providing growers with the latest in precision agronomics, variable rate technology, soil fertility, crop protection, fertilizers, custom application and financial solutions.
Tags: agricultural products, agricultural services, Canola, cereal crops, chickpeas, crop protection, custom application, Dynagra, fertilizers, financial solutions, frost threat, fusarium head blight, glyphosate, harvest, pre-harvest, precision agronomics, pulse crops, seed germination, seeding plans, soil fertility, sprayed, Variable Rate Technology, winter wheat
Statistics Canada has released estimates of crop production in Canada for 2010.
2010 Canada Crop Production Forecast
Estimated decreases in wheat, canola and barley production are primarily due to above average precipitation throughout Western Canada. An estimated increases in soybeans production is due to record levels in Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec.
Tags: barley, Canola, crop production, dry beans, dry field peas, flaxseed, grain corn, oats, soybeans, Statistics Canada, wheat
A great deal of money is at stake over the grading of this year’s lentil crop. On top of the disease issues, wet harvest weather is causing bleaching and sprouting and wrinkled seed coats. Top quality product is going to be in short supply so there are large price spreads between the grades. There’s going to be some ugly looking samples and the downgrading will likely be the worst in the large green lentils. Right now, prices of around 30 cents a pound are being quoted for both No. 1 and No. 2. An Extra 3 large green lentil falls to a price of around 25 cents while a No. 3 slips all the way to around 20 cents. The difference between the top two grades and a number 3 is about 10 cents a pound – a whopping $6 a bushel. On a 25 bushel per acre lentil crop, that’s a difference of $150 an acre. On red lentils, the top two grades are being quoted in the 24 to 25 cent a pound range and that’s the quality you want to achieve because on the Extra 3 grade, price quotes are around 15 cents. On No. 3 red lentils, prices drop by a further cent or two. Every rain delay is costing lentil growers a small fortune. Note that prices will differ between the various buyers and prices are likely to change rapidly in the current environment. I’m Kevin Hursh.
DynAgra, an independent Western Canada-based Company, is dedicated to providing growers with the tools to manage the risk and maximize the profitability of their farm business through the continued innovation of agricultural products and services. We are committed to developing and providing growers with the latest in precision agronomics, variable rate technology, soil fertility, crop protection, fertilizers, custom application and financial solutions.
Tags: agricultural products, agricultural services, crop protection, custom application, disease, Dynagra, fertilizers, financial solutions, grading, large green lentils, lentil crop, lentil prices, lentils, precision agronomics, red lentils, soil fertility, Variable Rate Technology, wet harvest
Canadian Wheat Board elections are being held this fall in the odd-numbered districts. An interesting race is shaping up in District 3, which is southwest Saskatchewan and part of southeast Alberta. Two candidates are throwing their hats into the ring and more will no doubt follow. District 3 has long been represented by Larry Hill of Swift Current, a strong supporter of the CWB’s single desk. Hill has always won by a wide margin, but he has served the maximum number of terms and now the district is wide open. The two candidates who have announced their intentions to run are both single desk supporters, but they differ in their approach. Stewart Wells of Swift Current is a former president of the National Farmers Union. Bright and articulate, Wells hardly ever has anything negative to say about the CWB. He will certainly have a lot of name recognition. The second candidate is Brett Meinert of Shaunavon. Although a supporter of the CWB’s marketing functions, Meinert promises to address the industry and producer frustrations that arise in dealing with the CWB. Meinert has served on the board of South West Terminal and as president of the Inland Terminal Association of Canada. With two high profile single desk supporters in the running, it’ll be interesting to see who comes forward to represent the dual marketing viewpoint. I’m Kevin Hursh.
DynAgra, an independent Western Canada-based Company, is dedicated to providing growers with the tools to manage the risk and maximize the profitability of their farm business through the continued innovation of agricultural products and services. We are committed to developing and providing growers with the latest in precision agronomics, variable rate technology, soil fertility, crop protection, fertilizers, custom application and financial solutions.
Tags: agricultural products, agricultural services, Brett Meinert, Canadian Wheat Board, crop protection, custom application, CWB, Dynagra, fertilizers, financial solutions, Inland Terminal Association of Canada, Larry Hill, National Farmers Union, precision agronomics, soil fertility, Stewart Wells, Variable Rate Technology
An organization called the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council wants to hear from small-scale farm operators across Canada regarding their labour needs, whether they are farming full-time or part-time, alone or with help. The council is currently conducting research on the labour requirements of farm operations with annual gross receipts of less than $100,000. Statistically farms under $100,000 gross make up 65 per cent of all the farms in Canada. It’s an online survey and the deadline to receive responses has been extended until the end of September to receive a greater number of responses from each region across the country. The Council plans to use the information to better understand the labour needs on small-scale farms and to develop tools and resources to meet those needs. I suspect they’ll find out that small-scale producers can’t afford to hire labour or if someone is hired it’s only on a part time basis in a peak season. The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council isn’t fixated on small operations. They’ve already done a survey and a lot of work on operations with gross returns greater than $100,000, so this is a logical extension of their work. To take the survey or to see the work they’ve already done, go to www.cahrc-ccrha.ca. I’m Kevin Hursh.
DynAgra, an independent Western Canada-based Company, is dedicated to providing growers with the tools to manage the risk and maximize the profitability of their farm business through the continued innovation of agricultural products and services. We are committed to developing and providing growers with the latest in precision agronomics, variable rate technology, soil fertility, crop protection, fertilizers, custom application and financial solutions.
Tags: agricultural products, agricultural services, Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council, crop protection, custom application, Dynagra, fertilizers, financial solutions, labour needs, precision agronomics, small-scale producers, soil fertility, Variable Rate Technology
Take advantage of any little break you get in the weather. As I read emails from producers around the province, that’s a theme that emerges this year. Whether it was seeding, weed control, or now harvest, the producers with the best success are those who jumped on any reasonable window of opportunity to get the equipment rolling. It doesn’t always work that way. Some years you kick yourself for pushing the envelope. You regret not waiting for more optimal conditions. Patience would have been the correct course of action. This year, optimal conditions for field work have been fleeting. Jumping the gun has been the right decision. So far, the wet pattern that has prevailed throughout the growing season shows no sign of changing. Hopefully, we’ll get a break and see an extended dry spell at some point. In the meantime, there will be combines rolling and lots of tough and even damp grain going into aeration bins whenever an opportunity arises. It’s better to be putting tough grain into aeration now versus a month from now. I’m Kevin Hursh.
DynAgra, an independent Western Canada-based Company, is dedicated to providing growers with the tools to manage the risk and maximize the profitability of their farm business through the continued innovation of agricultural products and services. We are committed to developing and providing growers with the latest in precision agronomics, variable rate technology, soil fertility, crop protection, fertilizers, custom application and financial solutions.
Tags: aeration, agricultural products, agricultural services, crop protection, custom application, Dynagra, fertilizers, financial solutions, grain, harvest, precision agronomics, seeding, soil fertility, Variable Rate Technology, weed control
It could be considered an inadvertent intercropping experiment. Over the years, a number of farmers have tried growing peas with canola. This year, I have a 170 acre field that’s a mixture of large green lentils and oriental mustard. It wasn’t intentional. By the time I realized there were so many mustard volunteers in the lentil crop, the lentils were getting pretty advanced to do anything about it. Then there was another big rain and I decided to just let it go. When the mustard flowered, it looked like a mustard crop, but beneath the yellow blooms there was a good lentil crop. Both matured about the same time and I used Reglone as a desiccant, which is a registered product on both. If anything, it has been easier to combine the mixture than lentils alone. The gross yield was approximately 35 bushels an acre. I bought an old rotary screen cleaner and with it too wet to continue combining we’re now in the process of separating the seed. So far, there appears to be nearly 15 per cent mustard. It’ll be interesting to see how the yield and quality compares with my other lentil crops where there aren’t tame mustard volunteers. I’m Kevin Hursh.
DynAgra, an independent Western Canada-based Company, is dedicated to providing growers with the tools to manage the risk and maximize the profitability of their farm business through the continued innovation of agricultural products and services. We are committed to developing and providing growers with the latest in precision agronomics, variable rate technology, soil fertility, crop protection, fertilizers, custom application and financial solutions.
Tags: agricultural products, agricultural services, crop protection, custom application, Dynagra, fertilizers, financial solutions, green lentils and oriental mustard, peas and canola, precision agronomics, soil fertility, Variable Rate Technology
There is a wide range in quality over the limited amount of crop that’s been harvested. Within the lentil crop, a lot of disease and sprouting is evident, although there has also been some good quality harvested. With the weather this week, you have to think the quality of many crops is going to take a further hit. This is especially true on the eastern Prairies where there has been a lot of rain in the past couple of weeks and more rain is forecast. In addition to bleaching, sprouting and disease, the rain and cool weather is further delaying maturity. When the clouds finally clear, frost might not be far behind. It’s that time of year. The days are getting shorter and we can’t seem to get a sustained period of warm, dry weather. It’s been a difficult growing season and so far the same pattern is holding for harvest. We really need a repeat of last year’s abnormally hot and dry September. Otherwise the Saskatchewan crop is going to have below average quality as well as below normal quantity. I’m Kevin Hursh.
DynAgra, an independent Western Canada-based Company, is dedicated to providing growers with the tools to manage the risk and maximize the profitability of their farm business through the continued innovation of agricultural products and services. We are committed to developing and providing growers with the latest in precision agronomics, variable rate technology, soil fertility, crop protection, fertilizers, custom application and financial solutions.
Tags: agricultural products, agricultural services, bleaching, crop, crop protection, custom application, delaying maturity, disease, Dynagra, fertilizers, financial solutions, harvest, lentil, precision agronomics, rain, soil fertility, sprouting, Variable Rate Technology
The phosphate market is going to get very competitive in the next 12 months. There are three new plants coming on stream by the end of 2011.
Kailin’s 600,000st per year DAP plant located in South China will be running by the end of 2010
Ma-aden’s plant in Saudi Arabia that will produce a 3 million st per year of DAP will be on stream by spring of 2011.
OCP-Bunge’s JV Moroccan 720,00st per year DAP/MAP plant is on target to open by the end of 2011
The new production has North American phosphate manufacturers starting to position themselves to defend their turf. I don’t believe that this new production will impact Canadian Phosphate pricing this spring (2011) but I expect to see it impact the 2012 crop year.
Tags: Canadian phosphate pricing, Kailin, Ma-aden, OCP-Bunge, phosphate market, phosphate pricing
Livestock prices are a lot better than a year ago. The Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture publishes a Market Trends report that lists current grain and livestock prices versus the price one year earlier. A1 steers in Saskatchewan are currently listed at 90 cents a pound. A year ago, the price was 82 cents. D1 / D2 cows are a lot better at around 59 cents as compared to only 39 cents last year. With the fall calf run approaching, a lot of cow-calf producers will be following the price of feeder calves. The report lists the current price of 500 to 600 pound steer calves at $1.20 a pound, versus $1.09 last year. That’s roughly another $60 per calf. While that’s helpful, prices will have to increase further to provide a decent return. Many livestock analysts and observers believe cattle prices will indeed continue to strengthen. Look at the big turnaround in the hog industry. A year ago, Index 100 market hogs in Saskatchewan were around $95 per hundred kilograms. Now prices are in the $150 to $160 range. That’s the kind of increase cow-calf producers would like to see. I’m Kevin Hursh.
DynAgra, an independent Western Canada-based Company, is dedicated to providing growers with the tools to manage the risk and maximize the profitability of their farm business through the continued innovation of agricultural products and services. We are committed to developing and providing growers with the latest in precision agronomics, variable rate technology, soil fertility, crop protection, fertilizers, custom application and financial solutions.
Tags: ag products, ag services, agricultural products, agricultural services, cattle prices, crop protection, custom application, Dynagra, fertilizers, financial solutions, livestock, Market Trends, precision agronomics, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, soil fertility, Variable Rate Technology
