I was reading a release the other day from Cereals Canada about its annual New Crop Trade and Technical Missions initiative, and what jumped off the page was how well-respected our wheat is around the world.
Quoting what they heard from purchasers of Canadian wheat, the release says customers refer to Canadian Western Red Spring as the “gold standard” of wheat and an anchor in their wheat blends. It also says Canadian Western Amber Durum has been called the “Ferrari” of durum wheat.
This is high praise indeed for Western Canada’s largest crop, of which we export approximately 75 per cent around the world to countries such as China, Japan, Indonesia, Italy and the U.S.
What better way to lead into our latest issue of Top Crop Manager West, which focuses on cereals like Canada’s highly respected wheat crop, than to shine a light on our exemplary wheat growers?
Included in this issue is a feature looking at how to best manage Fusarium head blight to help lessen the impact of the fungal disease on cereal crops, as well as a dive into a widespread weed that impacts the Prairies, costing approximately half a billion dollars in annual losses each year – wild oats. Staying on the Prairies, we also explore the impact of potash fertilizer on crops like durum wheat in drier regions in Brown soil zone areas.
And, always timely with his Agronomy Update, western field editor Bruce Barker addresses how enhanced efficiency fertilizers can cut nitrous oxide emissions in spring wheat, which could help Canada reach its goal of reducing the amount of greenhouse gasses from nitrogen fertilizers by 30 per cent below 2020 levels by 2030.
As is the goal with each issue of Top Crop Manager West, we aim to provide the latest insight and research to help our audience produce the best product they can. And given the kind words from customers of Canadian wheat voiced around the globe, it’s clear growers in Western Canada are stepping up to the plate and hitting a home run.
Challenges will always remain. The latest wheat market outlook indicates that although weekly exports are strong and running eight per cent ahead of last year’s numbers, durum wheat exports are lagging, mostly due to competition from other wheat-producing countries like Turkey filling some of that global need.
But, when you’re selling a product that’s considered “the gold standard,” you won’t be down for long.
