6 It’s Farming. And It’s Better. Better Farming | May 2024 Beyond the Barn Z-SERIES OFFERS ‘NEW CLASS’ OF SOY GENETICS Corteva Agriscience has launched a new line of Pioneer soybeans in time for the 2024 growing season. Ontario growers now have limited access to Z-Series Enlist E3 soybeans and the 20 varieties that are part of the lineup for this season, with full commercial availability planned for 2025. “This is a new class of soybean genetics and is in a class all of its own, delivering more yield than our previous A-Series,” Chad Garrod, eastern seeds portfolio manager with Corteva Agriscience, recently told Better Farming.The varieties range in maturity from 00 to 3.2. Farmers in northern Ontario may choose to grow a 00.5, whereas producers in southern Ontario might choose a 3.2 variety, Garrod said, adding that with 20 varieties available, farmers should be able to find the right variety for their individual operations. Trials show the Z-Series outperforms Pioneer’s A-Series. IMPACT trials from across North America determined the Z-Series soybeans yielded 2.7 bushels per acre higher than the A-Series, and a provided a $35 per acre return on investment. The varieties also have score improvements of 0.5 for SDS and 0.6 for white mould, as well as an increased lodging resistance and more tolerance to iron deficiency chlorosis. “These aren’t old genetics with new traits; these are all new genetics,” Garrod said. “I think this is going to create a new standard across the board for soybean production in Canada.” Another potential benefit of the Z-Series is the flexibility it offers. Industry research suggests farmers should rotate between PI 88788 and Peking resistance varieties. Garrod said the new Z-Series supports farmers in implementing this rotation. BF - Diego Flammini Cross-Canada farm cash receipts were 3.6 per cent higher in 2023 than 2022. Statistics Canada recently released their summary of farm cash receipts from January to December last year, noting that they totaled $98.6 billion, which was $3.4 billion more than the previous year. These increases were observed in both livestock and crop receipts, while program payments decreased. StatCan reported that Ontario farm cash receipts in 2023 were consistent with 2022, but all other provinces saw increases. Crop receipt changes were not consistent across commodities. In total, crop receipts increased by 2.0 per cent. Wheat showed a $922.4 million increase, partially due to 24.1 per cent higher marketings. Prices for wheat decreased by 11.4 per cent in 2023 but remained higher than their five-year average. Corn and soybean receipts decreased in 2023 due to reduced marketings and a decline in price. Corn receipts were $469.4 million less than 2022 and soybean receipts were $308.7 million less. This is partially due to increased supply in the U.S. market. Livestock sectors reported largely consistent receipt increases in 2023, for a total of 9.8 per cent and $37.3 billion more than 2022. Much of this increase (80 per cent) is attributed to increases in cattle receipts, coinciding with high cattle prices for slaughter and exports. Cattle receipts totalled $13.5 billion, increasing $2.7 billion from 2022. Supply managed receipts including dairy and chicken increased by 5.7 per cent to a total of $14.9 billion. Receipt increases may reflect high input costs, leading to price increases. Specifically, dairy receipts increased 3.9 per cent to $8.6 billion, and meat chicken receipts increased $292.9 million to a total of $4.2 billion. While other livestock sectors saw receipts increase, pork sector receipts decreased by 10.3 per cent to $5.9 billion, which StatCan attributes to an 11.5 per cent price decrease and reduced demand. BF FARM CASH RECEIPTS UP IN 2023 Leslie Stewart photo
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