SASKATOON — The 2024-25 wheat market outlook hinges on one key question. “The bottom line is, it comes back to Russia. Are they going to be able to have a big enough crop again this year to dominate world exports and hold prices down, or not?” DTN lead analyst Todd Hultman said during a recent webinar. Related stories: All eyes on Russian weather as wheat rebound Wheat market breaks dormancy “That’s going to be the key.” The answer depends on the upcoming weather, but there have been early indications that Russia’s crop is in trouble. SovEcon, a leading Black Sea agricultural market research ..read more

SASKATOON — Todd Hultman is closely monitoring a potentially “very bullish” situation for the soybean market. Freight on board (f.o.b.) soybean prices for July have dramatically narrowed between Brazil and the United States. Related stories: Global soybean glut could pressure canola prices Tighter stocks, production in USDA report Soybean prices in Paranagua that were US$1.75 per bushel lower than those in New Orleans in February are now a mere 12 cents cheaper. “It’s uncommonly early for those two prices to converge this quickly,” DTN’s lead analyst said during a recent webinar about the la ..read more

New Zealand-based Hustler Equipment has introduced an updated line of Combi RX2 Multi-Feeder wagons. Since introducing the first series in 2019, the company says it has taken user feedback to heart and made a number of requested changes to the design. “The RX2 is our latest series,” says Lance Paskewitz, Hustler’s country manager for North America. “The actual concept itself has been around for over 30 years in multiple countries. Most of the new stuff is upgrades here and there that the market has been asking for, different innovations we’ve added into it like the width of the machine to incr ..read more

Glacier FarmMedia – Potatoes are a high-value crop and one of the world’s most important dietary staples. But when it comes to sustainability, they’ve got a hurdle to clear because there’s no escaping some level of soil disturbance when growing and harvesting. Soil health and minimized soil disturbance are major pillars in the push toward sustainable agriculture. That’s an issue for an underground crop. That doesn’t mean the relationship between soil health and the potato sector can’t improve, according to Cam Ogilvie of the Institute for Soil Health. “I’m part of an institution that’s based o ..read more

Flea beetle damage was relatively low last year compared to the crushing pressure of previous seasons, but producers can’t afford complacency. “There was less foliar insecticide used for flea beetles than the previous years, and maybe less flea beetles to some degree, but there were still a lot of flea beetles out there,” said Manitoba Agriculture entomologist John Gavloski. Damage was limited last year because conditions allowed for good stand establishment. “If you have conditions that hold the plants in the seedling stages for a prolonged period of time or if you have delayed germination, y ..read more

Farm Credit Canada recently released a farm machinery market outlook for 2024, and the news isn’t all that great for Canadian equipment dealers, especially when it comes to harvesting equipment. Despite new combine sales growing 5.5 per cent in 2023 in Canada compared to 2022, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), the FCC report projects sales will tank by as much as 20 per cent this year. As well, used combine, header and grain cart sales are also expected to soften, trending below the five-year average. On top of that, dealer combine inventory levels are forecast to ..read more

Glacier FarmMedia – A 2024 product advisory from Keep it Clean is missing two names previously featured on a list of high-risk crop protection products. Keep it Clean is a joint initiative of the Canola Council of Canada, Cereals Canada, Pulse Canada and the Prairie Oat Growers Association. The group releases an annual product advisory with information on potential market risks associated with agrochemical use. Sethoxydim, a post-emergent herbicide, is one of the products removed, largely because BASF stopped making the product. Chlorothalonil, a fungicide active ingredient, was the other remo ..read more

BRANDON — Rudiger, Dietmar and Cindy teach much about the wanderings of wild pigs. These three eastern German wild boars were tracked as one crossed back and forth between Poland and Germany, all three wandered far from where they were first spotted and tagged and all were unfazed by natural barriers that would put off lesser beasts. Recent wild pig stories: Wild pig experts divided over extent of the problem Wild pig control gains momentum on Prairies More funds on the way for wild pig fight VIDEO: Shooting not the answer with wild pigs Ont. faces unique wild pig challenges “Dietmar go ..read more

BRANDON — Don’t shoot. That’s the plea from virtually all wild pig experts who are fighting the reasonable — but wrong — assumption among many hunters, farmers and other gunowners that shooting a wild pig helps control the growing problem. “You’re not going to shoot your way out of a pig problem,” said Aaron Sumrall, who works for the manufacturer of the Pig Brig pig-netting system and is a former Texas A and M University extension specialist. Recent wild pig stories: Wild pig experts divided over extent of the problem Wild pig control gains momentum on Prairies More funds on the way for wild ..read more

BRANDON — Like commandos, the gunmen arrived by airboat, slipping into the swamp while their targets slept, guided by two drones and approaching quietly to point blank range. One of targets bolted and charged past, taking a shotgun blast from less than two metres, so close that the wad from the shell was embedded in the wild pig’s hide. Another target was quickly dispatched. Recent wild pig stories: Wild pig experts divided over extent of the problem Wild pig control gains momentum on Prairies More funds on the way for wild pig fight VIDEO: Shooting not the answer with wild pigs German s ..read more