Average CWRS (13.5%) prices lost C$3.70 to adding C$2.20 per tonne, according to price quotes from a cross-section of delivery points compiled by PDQ (Price and Data Quotes). Those prices ranged from about C$269.00 per tonne in southeastern Saskatchewan to C$290.40 per tonne in southern Alberta.

Quoted basis levels varied from location to location and ranged from C$47.00 to C$68.30 per tonne above the futures when using the grain company methodology of quoting the basis as the difference between the U.S. dollar denominated futures and the Canadian dollar cash bids.

When accounting for currency exchange rates by adjusting Canadian prices to United States dollars (C$1=US$0.7186), CWRS bids ranged from US$193.30 to US$208.70 per tonne. That would put the currency adjusted basis levels at about US$13.40 to US$28.70 below the futures.

Looking at it the other way around, if the Minneapolis futures are converted to Canadian dollars, CWRS basis levels across Western Canada ranged from C$9.60 to C$20.70 below the futures.

Average CPRS (11.5%) wheat tacked on 20 cents to losing $3.50 per tonne. Bids ranged from C$247.30 per tonne in southeastern Saskatchewan to C$272.00 per tonne in southern Alberta.

Average CWAD prices gave up C$1.10 to adding C$0.60 per tonne. Bids ranged from C$322.00 per tonne in northwestern Saskatchewan to C$341.20 per tonne in southern Alberta.

The December spring wheat contract in Minneapolis, which most CWRS contracts Canada are based off of, was quoted at US$6.0425 per bushel on Oct. 31, dropping 13.75 cents on the week.

The Kansas City hard red winter wheat futures, which are now traded in Chicago, are more closely linked to CPRS in Canada. The December Kansas City wheat contract was quoted at US$5.6925 per bushel on Oct. 31, forgoing 17.75 cents from a week ago.

The December Chicago Board of Trade soft wheat contract settled at US$5.7050 per bushel on Oct. 31, losing 11 cents.

The loonie was down 0.37 of a cent on the week, settling at 71.86 U.S. cents.

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The Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture’s wheat midge forecast, released earlier this year, initially showed high risk levels for the insect, but the dryness is hampering their effects on crops.

“Dr. Bob Elliott’s work at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has shown that if you don’t get 25 mm of precipitation prior to the end of May, it will affect wheat midge emergence,” provincial insect specialist Scott Hartley said.

“Although some areas did, like down in southeast Saskatchewan was probably one area that did, there are a number of areas that didn’t — it’s just been that dry.”

Wheat midge populations need moisture by the end of May to trigger them to go into their pupal stage, so the dryness results in later, more erratic emergence.

Crop development in Western Canada this year has also varied widely along with weather conditions, which has lowered the crops’ susceptibly to midge damage.

“There’s either some that might have grown out of the stage before midge emerged, others that went through that stage fairly quickly, and other ones probably weren’t even into the susceptible stage by the time midge were emerging,” Hartley said.

As of last Saturday (July 12), wheat midge populations were about 50 to 90 per cent emerged in most of Western Canada, according to a weekly report from the Prairie Pest Monitoring Network.

Even in the regions that got moisture in late May, such as Manitoba and southeastern Saskatchewan, significant damage from the insect hasn’t been reported, according to weekly provincial crop updates.

We’re now coming to the end of wheat midge season, Alberta’s provincial insect management specialist Scott Meers said in a weekly insect update on Thursday, so the chance of the problem getting worse in coming weeks is diminishing.

— Terryn Shiells writes for Commodity News Service Canada, a Winnipeg company specializing in grain and commodity market reporting.

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Grasshopper forecast maps put out over the winter were not initially all that bad for Alberta and Saskatchewan, given the conditions in 2014, but weather in the spring and summer can alter the situation considerably.

“The fall survey did not pick up any really high numbers of grasshoppers… nothing that we would consider high risk for most crops,” said Scott Hartley, insect control specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture.

However, weather conditions now “are ideal for grasshoppers,” he said.

An extended fall in 2014 also allowed for high numbers of eggs, which have been hatching since late May, said Hartley. Grasshoppers were now becoming more mobile, he added, and producers should be monitoring their fields — especially in areas that are warm and dry.

While growing conditions for crops have been slow, “there is certainly enough plant growth for them to eat,” said Hartley.

Cool and wet weather would slow them down, but Hartley said a widespread event that would be detrimental for grasshoppers was unlikely and would also cause more significant crop problems for other reasons.

There are five immature stages leading up to an adult grasshopper, with grasshoppers in the third to fifth stages causing the most problems for crops, depending on how far along the fields are.

While the dryness is raising concerns over grasshoppers, it has slowed the development of wheat midge in those dry areas, as that pest needs a certain amount of moisture, said Hartley.

However, the southeastern corner of Saskatchewan has been on the wet side in recent years, and midge is poised to cause more problems in that area.

— Phil Franz-Warkentin writes for Commodity News Service Canada, a Winnipeg company specializing in grain and commodity market reporting.

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“For cabbage seedpod weevil, the survey from last year was showing that it’s extended well eastwards (in Saskatchewan) with some pretty good numbers now moving more into traditional widespread canola growing regions,” said Scott Hartley, insect specialist with the Saskatchewan agriculture ministry in Regina.

In Alberta, the weevil is also expanding to new areas. The weevil’s northern extent pushed to the southern boundaries of Red Deer, Stettler, Paintearth and Provost counties in 2014, according to the province’s 2015 cabbage seedpod weevil forecast.

Farmers who had high populations of cabbage seedpod weevil last year may choose to plant a different crop in 2015 to avoid damage from the pest, Hartley said. They can also be controlled through insecticides if necessary, he added.

Farmers in Western Canada will also have to watch out for wheat midge this growing season. In Saskatchewan, midge had a good year in 2014, which could lead to more problems in 2015.

“There were large numbers of (wheat midge) cocoons that showed up in the soil survey,” Hartley said, adding they will likely survive the winter.

Though midge populations in the eastern Peace region of Alberta are generally expected to drop this year, there is still a risk of higher populations in the province, the provincial forecast said.

The best thing farmers can do to prevent damage from any insect is regular monitoring in fields, though there are also midge-tolerant wheat varieties available.

Though last year’s higher populations point to possible issues with the two insects in parts of the Prairies, the main factor in their potential impact this year will be spring weather conditions.

A cool, wet spring could cause some mortalities among both pests, and would likely cause them to develop and emerge at a slower than normal pace, Hartley said.

— Terryn Shiells writes for Commodity News Service Canada, a Winnipeg company specializing in grain and commodity market reporting.

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But there is still a risk of higher populations in the region due to the very large levels of the insect population seen during the 2013 crop year, the report said

Wheat midge has not followed previous forecasts very well in the Peace region, the report added.

A general increase in risk of damage from wheat midge is seen in central Alberta for 2015, with the area east of Edmonton seeing the most concerns at this point.

Populations of the insect are expected to fall to very low numbers in much of southern Alberta, the report added.

Producers should note how much midge-related damage was done to this year’s wheat crop as an indicator of the risk of damage to the 2015-16 wheat crop, the report said.

The past several years have seen midge damage vary widely, especially in areas with higher counts.

The report emphasized it isn’t meant to take the place of individual field monitoring, and farmers may still have economic-threshold levels of midge this year in areas where smaller populations are expected.

Each producer also needs to assess his or her risk based on indicators specific to the individual farm.

A number of factors influence the overwintering survival of the wheat midge; the survey provides a general picture of existing densities and the potential for infestation in 2015.

Weather conditions — specifically temperature and moisture — will ultimately determine the extent and timing of midge emergence during the growing season.

Temperature and wind also play critical roles in egg-laying activities of the adult female wheat midge. The level of damage from wheat midge is determined by the synchrony of wheat midge emergence and wheat coupled with the number of wheat midge, the report added.

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“The biggest new insect issue is wheat midge in the Fahler area of the Peace area as well as a smattering of other areas in central and southern Alberta,” says insect specialist Scott Meers.

“Bertha Army worm seems to be tapering off; however, we are concerned about the fringe areas of last year’s outbreak. We won’t be able to confirm this until the trapping season begins. As well, grasshoppers are a bit of a concern for 2014 in some areas of the Peace and others in the province.”

The maps are updated through the year as conditions change. This advance warning system  gives producers  time to prepare for what’s ahead, whether that means choosing a resistant variety or scheduling proper scouting and control measures for specific insects that they may need to deal with.

The recently posted maps include 2014 insect forecast and information on:

• Wheat midge
• Bertha armyworm
• Cabbage seedpod weevil
• Diamondback moth
• Grasshopper
• Pea leaf weevil
• Wheat stem sawfly

“Forecast maps and information are not intended to take the place of individual field monitoring,” says Meers. “While forecast maps can shows area of greater risk for insects, it is important to scout fields on an ongoing basis as in any range, and even in individual fields, populations can vary highly.”

Insect forecast maps are available on the Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development website.

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