Insights and Stories on General

USDA to close 249 offices in cost-saving move

Jan. 11, 2012 at 3:20 pm CST

The U.S. Agriculture Department plans to close 249 offices this year — half of them the local offices that deal with farmers — in a cost-cutting program, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Monday. USDA says the package will save $150 million a year and help reduce the yawning federal deficit. […]

Food prices may ease in 2012 but won’t drop: FAO

Jan. 3, 2012 at 11:31 pm CST

By Catherine Hornby

Dry winter on Prairies a worry for cattle, winter wheat

Jan. 3, 2012 at 11:23 pm CST

By Rod Nickel

Another step toward resumed access for beef to South Korea

Dec. 30, 2011 at 9:55 pm CST

Mosaic cuts phosphate production

Dec. 30, 2011 at 2:12 pm CST

By Tom Polansek

Conference explores life after the CWB monopoly

Dec. 29, 2011 at 1:41 pm CST

In a post-monopoly world, the Canadian Wheat Board will disappear altogether, or it will become the "eBay" for grain exports by bypassing the grain-handling system with container shipments. Or it will become something in between. It all depends on who was talking at the recent two-day conference here organized by […]

By Allan Dawson

Specialty crops bidding for acres in 2012

Dec. 29, 2011 at 1:15 pm CST

A North Dakota farm management specialist says returns from minor crops such as safflower, buckwheat, mustard, rye and millet may be more competitive this year. "It has been a challenge for buyers of minor crops to ‘bid for acres’ when prices for major crops, such as wheat, corn and soybeans, […]

Farmers going mobile at same rate as others, survey says

Dec. 29, 2011 at 5:25 am CST

Canada’s farmers are investing in smartphones and tablets at the same rate as the rest of the population, Farm Credit Canada reports. The federal farm lending agency last week released a survey of its FCC Vision Panel, finding 29 per cent of farmers now own smartphones, compared to 30 per […]

How about $6,700 per acre for corn land?

Dec. 28, 2011 at 2:14 pm CST

Corn country is getting more expensive — fast, according to the results of a new study released Dec. 14. With farmers and investors alike bidding up the cost of key acreage used for growing corn, soybeans and other crops, the average value for Iowa farmland has risen 32.5 per cent […]

By Carey Gillam

Prairie canola variety data now available

Dec. 28, 2011 at 2:07 pm CST

Comparative data on canola seed varieties is now available to growers from the new Canola Performance Trials (CPT) 2011. The CPT 2011 represents the next generation in variety evaluation for Western Canadian canola growers, providing science-based, unbiased and timely performance data that reflects actual production practices, as well as comparative […]

By Canola Council of Canada