Canada’s temporary foreign worker (TFW) program is set to give farms a head start in an express lane expected to cut the annual paperwork for that program’s most “trusted employers.” Federal Employment and Workforce Development Minister Randy Boissonault last week launched a three-year pilot meant to “help to address labour shortages and reduce the administrative […] Read more
Pilot plan to cut red tape for reliable TFW employers
Farm employers can apply starting next month
U.S. says working to identify alternative paths for Ukraine grain
Danube grain facilities attacked overnight
Washington | Reuters — The United States on Wednesday condemned Russia’s continued attacks on Ukraine’s grain infrastructure and said it was working with partners to identify alternative options to ensure Ukrainian grain exports. “The United States … calls for Russia to immediately return to the Black Sea Grain Initiative,” State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn up off low on weather, Black Sea tensions
Ukraine reports Russian attack on grain storage facilities
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade corn futures rose on Wednesday as the market recovered slightly after improved U.S. crop conditions and concerns about China’s economy pushed prices to their lowest level since December 2020. Soybean futures also rebounded from a slide on Tuesday. The gains reflected uncertainty about the size of upcoming […] Read more
Prairie Forecast: Upper ridge to bring the heat
Issued Aug. 16, covering Aug. 16-23
After going through a couple of weeks of tough forecasting, with little agreement among the weather models, this forecast period is looking a little more stable with the two main weather models for our region in basic agreement. We start off this forecast with a low over Manitoba that is quickly moving east. To the […] Read more
Watch for post-harvest grain pests
Reading Time: < 1 minute As farmers prepare to put their next crop into storage, the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) has some tips to help identify insects (and know if they’re pests) if they appear in stored grain. The commission identifies 20 species of insects as primary pests (19 beetle species and one species of moth). Over 33 species are […] Read more
Alberta Grains to be post-merger name
Reading Time: < 1 minute Effective Aug. 1, Alberta Barley and the Alberta Wheat Commission is now known as Alberta Grains. The farmer organizations released the new moniker in the run-up to their merger, which will be effective with the start of the 2023-24 crop year. The merger aims to “…build on the strengths of both organizations to create a […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn futures touch 2020 low on improved crop ratings
U.S. soybean crushings set record in July
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade corn futures tumbled on Tuesday to their lowest level since 2020 after a weekly report from the U.S. government showed better-than-expected crop conditions. Soybean futures also slid on improved U.S. crop ratings, while wheat reached its lowest level in more than two months. A risk-averse sentiment across […] Read more
Alberta farmers granted late AgriStability entry
Enrolment deadline now Sept. 29
Any Alberta producers who were considering AgriStability — but only in hindsight — for the income stabilization plan’s 2023 program year now have until Sept. 29 to apply. Ottawa and the province announced Aug. 4 that they’ve reopened the jointly-funded program, as wildfires and/or “extremely dry” growing conditions have dragged on many Alberta producers’ work […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat down as traders shrug off Russian warning shots
CBOT soybeans close higher
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures set a two-month low on Monday on increasing estimates for Russia’s production and exports, analysts said, shrugging off a Russian warship firing warning shots at a cargo ship on its way to Ukraine. Corn futures finished near unchanged after matching a recent low from 2021, […] Read more
Prairie cash wheat: Bids run mixed to higher
Domestic wheat yields now a question mark
MarketsFarm — Bids for Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat were mixed for the week ended Aug. 10, while those for Canada Prairie Spring Red (CPSR) and durum were on the rise. Scattered showers brought moisture across the Prairies, but attention has now turned to harvesting a wheat crop greatly affected by hot and dry […] Read more