APAS tells railways to prepare for large crop

Jun 23, 2016

Saskatchewan crop conditions are leading to more crops

By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com

The President of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan is telling railway companies and the grain industries to be prepared for an extra-large crop.

“We may be only 30 to 60 days from harvesting a significantly larger than normal crop,” said Norm Hall.

Favourable crop conditions in much of the province and across the rest of Western Canada increases the potential for a “larger than average” crop.

Norm Hall

According to the latest Crop Report, “99 per cent of the fall cereals, 96 per cent of the pulse crops, 95 per cent of the spring cereals and 94 per cent of the oilseeds are at or ahead of their normal stage of development for this time last year.”

Hall said producers want to be confident that railways have protocols in place to mobilize staff and equipment; and that grain companies are equipped with sales programs to handle larger volumes of crops.

Hall said the crop volume in 2013-14 caught railways off guard, leading to a loss of profits.

“This led to a logistical nightmare for Prairie producers,” he said. “One that cost them $1.5 billion dollars in lost revenues. We need to get it right this year.”

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.