A program to help rural Saskatchewan municipalities and local authorities cover costs of channel clearing and maintaining drains for flood prevention will now expand to include individual landowners. The province’s Water Security Agency (WSA) said Friday its $1 million cost-share rebate program will expand its eligibility beyond RMs, conservation and development area (C+D) authorities and […] Read more

Saskatchewan drainage work rebates expanded to farmers
Channel clearing, drain maintenance program shares eligible costs

Prairie cash wheat: Canadian bids drop with U.S. futures
Canadian dollar also down on week
MarketsFarm — Spring wheat bids in Western Canada dropped sharply during the week ended Thursday, as a selloff in U.S. futures weighed on values. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS, 13.5 per cent protein) wheat prices were down by $23.50-$25.40 per tonne across the Prairies, according to price quotes from a cross-section of delivery points […] Read more

U.S. grains: Corn futures near three-week low
Soy mostly firm ahead of USDA reports; wheat follows corn lower
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures fell to their lowest in nearly three weeks on Thursday as rains bolstered production prospects in the Midwest and traders braced for key acreage and stocks data due Friday from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Wheat followed corn lower, pressured by a stronger U.S. dollar, which tends to […] Read more

Prairie Forecast: Alberta low to bring bit of a cooldown
Issued June 28, covering June 28 to July 5
After a fairly active weather pattern over the last few days, at least across the eastern half of the Prairies, it looks like most regions will see much quieter few days to start off this forecast period. Weak upper-level ridging combine with a broad but weak area of surface high pressure should bring typical summer […] Read more

Rail interswitching expansion pilot clears Parliament
Grain handlers to press for plan to be made permanent
Last week’s passage of the 2023 federal budget starts a 90-day countdown toward an 18-month test of expanded interswitching on railways in the three Prairie provinces. Bill C-47, the government’s budget implementation bill — which was first read April 20 in the House of Commons and got third reading in the Senate and royal assent […] Read more

West Coast longshore workers set to strike Saturday
Grain handling exempt from port work stoppage
Other than those who handle grains and oilseeds at port terminals and elevators, longshore workers at Canada’s West Coast ports are poised to walk off the job starting Saturday morning. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU Canada) on Wednesday morning served the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) with 72 hours’ strike notice, which […] Read more

U.S. grains: Corn, soy tumble on forecasts for much-needed rains
CBOT September wheat also lower
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures fell more than four per cent and soybeans more than two per cent on Wednesday, pressured by forecasts for beneficial rains in the Midwest where crops have struggled with dry conditions, analysts said. Wheat also declined, pressured by the expanding U.S. winter wheat harvest and a larger-than-expected Canadian […] Read more

Adjournments put off ag bills to September at earliest
Farm fuel, supply management, produce trust bills on hold
Federal private members’ bills with potential significant weight for Canada’s grain, livestock, dairy, poultry, egg, fruit and vegetable producers are now on hold until mid-September at least. Members of the House of Commons voted June 21 to adjourn until Sept. 18, while the Senate did likewise June 22, to return Sept. 19. While the two […] Read more

Canadian canola, wheat area up on the year: StatCan
More soybean, corn acres also estimated
MarketsFarm — Canadian farmers planted more canola than earlier intentions, according to updated acreage estimates from Statistics Canada released Wednesday. Meanwhile, wheat plantings hit their highest level in more than two decades. Total canola plantings were estimated at 22.1 million acres by the government agency, which compares with the 21.6 million expected in April and […] Read more

Ag in Motion plots give first-hand view of varieties and technology
Thirty companies and organizations will share their research this year
Reading Time: 3 minutes The crop plots at Ag In Motion give producers a chance to see crops and crop protection products at work in the great outdoors, along with the opportunity to speak face-to-face with company representatives. The 2023 show features 30 companies with plots, offering a practical and immersive experience with a variety of western Canadian crops […] Read more