Hursh Comment

The annual meeting of the Canada Grains Council is underway in Winnipeg and yesterday was devoted to market access issues. Some interesting information came out regarding European market access for Canadian flax. When a German bakery found traces of GM flax in its products last August, this was a lead news story in Europe for …

Which crop will return to $7 a bushel first – durum or peas? A neighboring farmer posed that question as we shot the breeze at the local farm input dealership over the weekend. It’s an interesting way to look at the difficulties facing these two major crops. Both durum and yellow peas have shown they …

The first crop report of the season for the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture includes estimates of which crops are going to increase in acreage and which crops are going to decrease. This is based on information from approximately 250 volunteer crop reporters. Durum acreage in the southern and central grain belt is expected to drop …

A device called the Harrington seed destructor will be tested on several Aussie farms this year. Australia’s Grains Research and Development Corporation has assisted in the development and has an article posted about it. The Western Australia Herbicide Resistance Initiative has also been involved. The machine is pulled behind a combine like a chaff cart …

Saskatchewan’s shortline railways are receiving half a million dollars from the provincial government for infrastructure grants to assist with projects such as track maintenance, railway tie replacement and bridge repairs. Many people probably don’t realize that there are now 10 privately owned shortline railways in the province operating on about 1,700 km of provincially-regulated track. …

Farm Credit Canada has come out with its latest farmland values report. In the second half of 2009, Saskatchewan farmland increased in value by an estimated 3.4 per cent. For the entire year, the increase was 6.8 per cent. This actually represents a slower rate of increase than in the previous couple years. In 2008, …

It isn’t unusual for wind to cause damage in Saskatchewan, but it is unusual to see wind damage over such a large area. Last week’s “big blow” toppled grain bins, ripped off siding, shingles and bin lids, and blew down corrals over a big chunk of Saskatchewan. It isn’t surprising considering many areas clocked winds …

The storm system racing through Alberta and Saskatchewan is not going to drop enough rain and snow to erase the huge moisture deficit on the western Prairies, but it’s a start. The system has had some tremendous wind speeds. Combined with snow, that has created some stormy conditions. However, the precipitation amounts being reported and …

The source for new wheat and barley varieties in Western Canada has always been primarily the public breeding institutions – Agriculture Canada and the University of Saskatchewan’s Crop Development Centre. However, we can expect more privately-developed varieties in the years ahead. Syngenta has just entered into a public-private partnership with the International Maize and Wheat …

The Prairie Canola Variety Trials have been cancelled for this year. Several Canadian canola seed developers are refusing to enter their varieties. When you look at the provincial seed guides, the information for comparing all the canola varieties comes from the Prairie Canola Variety Trials administered by the Canola Council of Canada. Call me a …

In eastern parts of Saskatchewan, there’s lots of water lying around and in some areas you can still find some snow. On the western side of the province, the snow is gone and except for the extreme southwest corner, there’s very little water anywhere. The same dry conditions cover most of Alberta. The application of …

The first case of a glyphosate-resistant weed in Canada has now been confirmed. University of Guelph researchers working in conjunction with Monsanto Canada have confirmed glyphosate resistance in a population of giant ragweed in Ontario. The finding is the result of research that began in late 2008 when a resistant population was first suspected. Not …