THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2013
VOL. 91 | NO. 38 | $4.25
Don’t mess with export markets GROWING WITH FARMERS FOR 90 YEARS
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Industry disagrees on GM pulse crops | P. 4
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SCIENCE | DNA MAPPING
DNA mapping project records Barcode of Life
‘Bumper’ doesn’t cover it
University of Guelph home to DNA digital library BY BARRY WILSON OTTAWA BUREAU
High yielding crops | Farmers reporting excellent yields despite late start, flooding
GUELPH, Ont. — Staff at a littleknown research centre tucked into the edge of the University of Guelph are recording the genetic identity of hundreds of thousands of species worldwide. The project — the International Barcode of Life — is revolutionary, unique and audacious, promising to record the DNA code of all flora and fauna in Canada within several years and most of the world’s species eventually. Already, the Barcode of Life digital library records the DNA bar code for more than 350,000 species around the globe with a goal of 500,000 by 2015. It is the species DNA reference site for scientists around the world and has grandiose plans for expansion if funding can be secured.
BY SEAN PRATT SASKATOON NEWSROOM
The grain industry might have to come up with a new term for this year’s harvest because bumper crop doesn’t adequately describe what’s coming off the combines. “In my 25 years in the grain business, I’ve never seen a crop this big from corner to corner,” said Derek Squair, president of Agri-Trend Marketing Inc. Based on his discussions with AgriTrend clients, average yields are almost unspeakable. “I hate to say it out of my mouth because I’m sure no one will believe it,” he said. Squair is forecasting a prairie-wide harvested average of 55 bushels per acre for spring wheat, 105 bu. for feed barley, 85 bu. for soft white wheat, 30 bu. for lentils and 45 bu. for peas. But it’s the canola estimate that is jaw-dropping. Squair believes the average harvested yield will be a staggering 50 bu. per acre. “The conditions were just right this year,” he said. “We had a lot of rain in June and we had cool weather when things were flowering in July and we had a hot August. I mean, that’s ideal conditions.” Squair said his numbers are a reflection of what showed up on yield monitors. They will have to be adjusted down by as much as 15 percent to reflect acres lost to spring flooding across Western Canada. SEE BUMPER CROP PENDING, PAGE 2
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SEE BARCODE OF LIFE, PAGE 3
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u|xhHEEJBy00001pzYv.:) SEPTEMBER 19, 2013 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Box 2500, Saskatoon, SK. S7K 2C4
Kaitlin Walter cleans the window of her father’s combine after their peas were combined at Cayley, Alta., Sept 12. | MIKE STURK PHOTO
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