THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2014
VOL. 92 | NO. 31 | $4.25
SCOUT WEED HUNTERS | UAVs FIELDS P60
SERVING WESTERN CANADIAN FARM FAMILIES SINCE 1923
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THE DAILY GRIND
AGRONOMY | DISEASE
Stripe rust hits Alberta spring wheat crops
Canola’s demand is bright
Infection significant in Peace region BY BARB GLEN LETHBRIDGE BUREAU
Basis up | Flood fears drive up delivery offers for canola in western Man., eastern Sask.
Stripe rust brought spores and surp r i s e s t o A l b e r t a g row e r s a n d researchers this year. The yield-limiting infection usually blows in from the Pacific Northwest, first affecting winter wheat fields in southern Alberta and then spreading into spring wheat. This year, the leaf disease overwintered in central Alberta, where it later caused an estimated 25 percent loss in susceptible varieties of spring wheat, said Alberta Agriculture cereal pathologist Kequan Xi. Winter wheat acreage is low in central Alberta, and the few crops that are grown there are often monitors for any stripe rust infection that could affect the much larger spring wheat acreage.
BY SEAN PRATT SASKATOON NEWSROOM
Franck Groeneweg does a double take when he scans the basis levels at his local elevator. “It’s amazing,” he said. “We never thought it was going to tighten up like this.” The basis level was $70 per tonne under the futures price when he signed his contract in November. Last week, the Viterra elevator in Balgonie, Sask., was offering $7.40 under for short-term delivery, 31 cents over for November and $5 over for February. He can’t recall when basis levels have looked so good that far into the future. Groeneweg attributes the dramatic turnaround to a number of factors, including improved logistics. “Our transportation issues have fixed themselves maybe a little quicker than expected,” he said. Jonathon Driedger, senior market analyst with FarmLink Marketing Solutions, said the improvement has been staggering. Two months ago grain companies were offering $30 under for new crop delivery. Today it is zero or even positive for the immediate post-harvest period. “We’re talking a swing of $30 to $40 per tonne,” he said. SEE CANOLA DEMAND, PAGE 2
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SEE STRIPE RUST, PAGE 2
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u|xhHEEJBy00001pzYv.:, JULY 31, 2014 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Box 2500, Stn. Main, Saskatoon, SK. S7K 2C4
Work is continuing on a new Parrish and Heimbecker terminal near Biggar, Sask., which is expected to hold 60,000 tonnes when complete. | BRIAN CROSS PHOTO
ONLINE: CHECK OUT THE WINNERS OF OUR #PLANT14 PHOTO CONTEST AT WWW.PRODUCER.COM/CATEGORY/NEWS Joint manoeuvres
Building a legacy
The Canadian Forces Base in Wainwright, Alta., is ideal for army training and cattle grazing. See how livestock and soldiers co-exist in the ultimate multi-use grazing area. | P 64
Angus breeders hope their children will be able to enjoy the farm lifestyle they’ve built near Swan River, Man. | P 20
The Western Producer is published in Saskatoon by Western Producer Publications, which is owned by GVIC Communications Corp. Publisher: Shaun Jessome Publications Mail Agreement No. 40069240
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