(Dave Bedard photo)

December StatsCan report could vary from years past

CNS Canada — After this fall’s long, drawn-out harvest, some analysts predict Statistics Canada’s final Production of Principal Field Crops numbers could vary from the usual pattern. StatsCan’s report, due out Thursday, is a “very uncertain” report “because that was probably one of the most bizarre falls we’ve ever had on the Prairies,” said Ken […] Read more

(Konoplytska/iStock/Getty Images)

Winter Cereals Manitoba now in on amalgamation plan

A possible union between four Manitoba commodity grower groups has a new fifth player on deck. Winter Cereals Manitoba Inc. (WCMI) announced Thursday its chair, Doug Martin, and director Allan Olinyk will join a steering committee made up of directors and staff from the Manitoba Corn Growers Association (MCGA), Manitoba Flax Growers Association (MFGA), National […] Read more


Photo: iStock

Fair weather welcome for harvest wrap-up in Sask.

CNS Canada – Thanks to good weather during the last half of October 99 per cent of Saskatchewan’s crop has been harvested according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s final Crop Report of 2018. However, snow and rain in early November has delayed the harvest of the remaining crops such as flax and oats, but producers hope to […] Read more

Extending fall and winter grazing

Extending fall and winter grazing

Crop residues are probably the most under­utilized source of winter grazing, says extension specialist

Extending the grazing season for cattle can help reduce production costs and there are various ways to increase forage production/utilization to ensure adequate fall grazing that can often be extended into winter. Lorne Klein, range management extension specialist, Ministry of Agriculture in Weyburn, Sask., says there are four sources of forage. “These are native prairie, […] Read more


Though some later seeded flax saw some frost damage, oil content in this year’s flax crop is averaging between 42 and 45 per cent.  Photo: File

Quality-wise Prairie flax crop in good shape

CNS Canada – As the amount of flax grown in Western Canada remains in a steep decline, this year’s crop was pretty good in terms of quality. “This year there are some visual black seeds in the crops, but it’s not that bad. It’s a pretty small amount, kind of negligible for the buyer,” said […] Read more

Photo: Thinkstock

Alberta harvest nearing completion

CNS Canada – Alberta farmers made significant harvest progress in late-October, with nearly 95 per cent of crops off the field as of Oct. 30, according to the final crop report of the season from Alberta Agriculture. On a crop-by-crop basis, spring wheat was 96.1 per cent harvested, durum 95.4 per cent, barley 95.6 per […] Read more





(Dave Bedard photo)

StatsCan’s canola forecast deemed supportive

CNS Canada — A summer of dryness and sizzling heat has apparently taken its toll on canola plants in many areas of Western Canada, according to the latest crop production estimate from Statistics Canada. In a survey compiled in the latter days of July and released Friday, Statistics Canada pegged canola production for 2018-19 at […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Questions remain over heat’s impact on 2018 yields

CNS Canada — Harvest came early for some crops in Western Canada this year. A few canola crops in Manitoba are already in the bin as warm temperatures and a lack of rain helped growers hit the fields quicker than other years. However, a hot and mostly dry summer on the Prairies has left many […] Read more