Wet Prairies could help some insects thrive

Western Canadian farmers should be on the lookout for a number of insect species this growing season, as the wet spring conditions may cause some populations to thrive, specialists in the three Prairie provinces said. One insect that thrives in wetter weather, and thus could impact growers this season, is the wheat midge. Insect specialists […] Read more





Spring moisture looking good for Prairie forage

Farmers across Western Canada are optimistic about forage crop production this spring, as moisture conditions look good in all three Prairie provinces, according to industry officials. Though soil conditions were fairly dry ahead of winter freeze-up across some areas in Western Canada, snow cover this winter has been very good, which should help moisture conditions […] Read more

Prairie flax dynamics show signs of change

The dynamics of flax movement in Western Canada are starting to see signs of change, according to industry officials. Jonathon Driedger, an analyst with FarmLink Marketing Solutions in Winnipeg, said a small flax processor in Alberta has recently offered fairly attractive new-crop contracts for movement to China. "In the past you’d see those kinds of […] Read more


Grainworld: Wheat could be the new canola

Canadian wheat is on its way to becoming the new canola, industry officials said during a presentation here Tuesday at the annual Wild Oats Grainworld conference. Todd Ormann, head of the crop portfolio for cereals at Syngenta Canada, said several major agribusinesses are noticing how important wheat is and are investing more money in research […] Read more



Grainworld: Demand for Prairie flax to increase in 2012-13

Export demand for western Canadian flax is expected to see an increase in the 2012-13 crop year, Jonathon Driedger, senior market analyst with FarmLink Marketing Solutions, told the annual Wild Oats Grainworld conference here Monday. Driedger expects exports of western Canadian flax to increase to 436,000 tonnes in 2012-13, from 391,000 in 2011-12. The increase […] Read more