News

  • Happy New Year

    Steve Larocque - January 3, 2012

    Happy New Year! I hope your holidays were cheery and restful. Enjoying the mild temperatures on the local outdoor rink with my future NHLers was a highlight of mine.

    The other day we finished selling all of our barley and I’m pleased to say our good land went 106 bu/ac and poorer land went 82 bu/ac. Having lost 10% or more from excessive rain, we are not complaining! We’ve yet to haul in the remaining 75% of our canola but our averages look promising there as well. People ask if CTF is working for us and all I have to say is that we’re definitely on the right, um, track.

    Some interesting news on the post-CWB front are the basis levels for new crop wheat. It’s interesting to note that basis levels are roughly $0.80/bu for new crop wheat where CWB basis levels have been $1.38/bu historically. That means the former middle man cost us $0.58/bu to market our grain. To some of my clients that’s over $100,000 year in wheat marketing costs alone. Let’s turn the page on that chapter.

    This week we’ll discuss growing CPS versus HRS wheat in 2012 with tips on CPS wheat production. Next, we’ll look into crop options for 2012 with the top five most profitable crops to grow this year. Last we’ll look into boosting wheat proteins with liquid urea given the protein premiums offered for new crop wheat. We’ll finish with fundamental and technical grain market news.

    Thanks for joining me for Volume 7 of Beyond Agronomy News. I anticipate a great year ahead.

  • The effects of growth regulators on yield

    Steve Larocque - November 22, 2011

    Hello, Winter! This past week snow covered the Prairies and temperatures plummeted. We’ve almost wrapped up soil sampling and have tweaked crop plans for next year. There’s plenty of talk about producers planting more malt barley, peas and canola with a lot less wheat due to significant uncertainty in Canadian Wheat Board politics.


    In this issue of Beyond Agronomy News, we’ll look at intensifying malt barley production and also discuss some interesting results on the effects of growth regulators on yield, test weight and protein from some malt barley trials. To keep on the theme, we’ll look at the use of PGR’s in intensive wheat production. We’ll finish with fundamental and technical grain market news. 


    See you folks at the sold out Advanced Agronomy conference in Nisku on Wednesday!
    Have a great week.

    Steve

  • Challenges we face with residue management

    Steve Larocque - November 15, 2011

    I spent three full days at AgriTrade last week and had a great visit with clients and colleagues. This year’s show was all about more horsepower, a little more cleaning capacity, more technology, and nicer cabs powered by more electronics.

    This week we’ll be looking at the results from yield measurements on rows beside the unseeded tram lines in our CTF system. We’ll also talk some more on the challenges we face with residue management in our CTF system. Last, I’ll update you on the final results of our high yield feed barley trials. We’ll finish with fundamental and technical grain market news.

    Have a  great week.

    Steve