Ontario Agricultural College is seeking approvals to offer a new master’s degree in plant agriculture, which would designate plant science professionals operating at a grad-school level but not on the traditional research-based path. OAC said Wednesday its proposed new “master of plant agriculture” (MPAg) program would allow recent graduates and professionals to “quickly upgrade education […] Read more

OAC to offer new master’s program in plant agriculture
New program would run alongside research-based degrees

Feed weekly outlook: Feed barley, wheat prices coming down
Feedlots' use of U.S. corn adds pressure
MarketsFarm — Despite a hot and dry summer across much of the Prairies, prices for feed barley and feed wheat have fallen off over the past month. The high-delivered bid for Alberta feed barley was $8.06 per bushel, $1.42 less than one month ago, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire. Those in Saskatchewan and Manitoba were […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soybeans end month up on crop stress
Wheat down as global supplies weigh on U.S. prices
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybeans fell for a third consecutive session on Thursday, but ended the month higher as recent export activity and fears that dry weather damaged crops lent support. Wheat ended lower after trading both sides of even, pressured by plentiful global supplies. Corn ended the day and the month lower after […] Read more

Russia says will have talks with Turkey about alternative to Black Sea deal
Plan calls for Qatar's support to move Russian grain
Reuters — Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan will discuss a proposal by Moscow for an alternative to the Black Sea grain deal when they meet this week, Lavrov’s ministry said Wednesday. Under the plan, Russia would send a million tons of grain to Turkey at a discounted price, with financial […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soybeans dip, despite exports
Damage to Canada's durum could impact pasta prices
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybean prices fell for a second session on Wednesday, despite recent export activity, with analysts pointing to traders squaring positions heading into the end of the month. Wheat traded higher, supported by global demand and concerns about Canada’s crop. Corn was near even as traders wait for the harvest to […] Read more

Prairie Forecast: Mostly sunny and warm
Issued Aug. 30, covering Aug. 30 to Sept. 6
It’s a straightforward forecast for this period as the general weather pattern looks to be pretty quiet. It starts with a large area of high pressure centred over the Great Lakes with a weak area of low pressure over Alberta. The Great Lakes high will put sunny skies and warm temperatures over much of Manitoba […] Read more

Do you know your trade MRLs?
Pre-harvest is the time to protect the crop’s marketability for international markets
Reading Time: 4 minutes Maximum residue limits can affect the marketability of a crop, so farmers need to heed them, say crop market experts. “Because we produce so much beyond what we need for our domestic demand for food, we really do need to keep in mind market access and those requirements that we see with our export partners,” […] Read more

Saskatchewan ag minister to oversee water agency
Marit gets additional duties in cabinet shuffle
Saskatchewan’s minister of agriculture will take on added responsibility for the provincial Water Security Agency following a cabinet mini-shuffle. Premier Scott Moe on Tuesday named David Marit, MLA for the southwestern riding of Wood River since 2016 an minister for agriculture and Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corp. since 2018, as minister responsible for the WSA. In […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soybeans dip after data shows crop less damaged than feared
Ukrainian farmers not expected to cut winter wheat area
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybean and corn prices retreated on Tuesday following U.S. government data showing a smaller-than-expected decline in crop conditions than what many analysts had expected. Wheat hit a two-week low as sluggish demand for U.S. supplies and competition from cheap Russian grain limited the upside in prices. The most active soybean […] Read more

Canada to harvest less wheat than expected due to drought
Canola, barley, oats output also projected lower
Winnipeg | Reuters — Canadian farmers will harvest less wheat than expected after dry conditions in parts of the Prairie provinces shrunk yields, a government report showed on Tuesday. Drought is expected to send global wheat stockpiles for major exporters to the lowest levels in more than a decade, a Reuters analysis has shown. Canada […] Read more