Reading Time: 2 minutes Minimal harvest progress was made this week as cool temperatures and light to moderate precipitation affected crop dry down. Heavy frost was reported across much of the South region which had been missed previously. Harvest completion is estimated at 60 per cent in the bin, up four percentage points from last week, but falling behind […] Read more
Weather slows harvest progress, falls behind five-year average
Alberta crop conditions as of September 26
Killing frost finds crops in the north, harvest 56 per cent complete
Alberta crop conditions as of September 19
Reading Time: < 1 minute Cooler weather has moved into the province bringing precipitation and frost to most areas. Precipitation in amounts of light showers in the South to rain in the Northern regions and the Peace has slowed harvest progress. Killing frosts below minus 2 Celsius were experienced across much of the province (view map at link below). Yield […] Read more
Taking aim at food waste, companies plan simplified expiration labels
New York | Thomson Reuters Foundation — Some of the world’s largest consumer goods companies, including Kellogg and Wal-Mart, said on Wednesday they will simplify food expiration labels in an effort to eliminate confusion that contributes to food waste. Standardized labeling will use a single expiration date on perishable items and a single quality indicator […] Read more
StatsCan’s model-based estimates confirm larger crops
CNS Canada — Canadian canola and wheat production likely ended up larger than earlier estimates, according to computer model-based data released Tuesday by Statistics Canada. The model-based estimates are calculated by incorporating satellite data, agro-climate data, and Statistics Canada’s field crop reporting data. The numbers compare with the survey of farmers released Aug. 31. Total […] Read more
Dry weather offers harvest progress, but depletes soil moisture
Alberta crop conditions as of September 12
Reading Time: 2 minutes Warm and dry weather conditions have prevailed across the province for several weeks, with only a few scattered areas experiencing frost in September. However, dry weather depleted the soil moisture, especially in the Southern and Central Regions where a large part of crops have already been harvested and soil does not have the cover. A map […] Read more
Lower Prairie flax production, decent quality expected
CNS Canada — What’s really happening with this year’s flax crop is going to be revealed in the next few weeks as farmers get into their fields. Statistics Canada predicted in a production report, released Aug. 31, that both Saskatchewan’s and Canada’s flax production this year would be 13.7 per cent less than in 2016. […] Read more
Alberta harvest reaches 32 per cent, some areas behind five-year average
Alberta crop conditions as of September 5
Reading Time: 2 minutes Harvest operations continue to benefit from the warm, dry weather which has encompassed much of the province. Light precipitation did fall in northerly regions but amounts were small causing minimal delays. Harvest progress has advanced to 32 per cent of the province completed primarily on the progress in the South and Central regions. Harvest progress […] Read more
Traders look to new crop following StatsCan stocks estimates
CNS Canada — Canadian canola stocks were relatively tight at the close of the 2016-17 crop year, which should be underpinning the market as the trade works to get a better handle on new-crop production. In a report released Wednesday, Statistics Canada pegged Canadian canola supplies as of July 31 at 1.35 million tonnes, compared […] Read more
StatsCan production survey timing likely to skew results
CNS Canada — Production of Canada’s major crops is generally expected to be down on the year after an adverse growing season in many areas. However, actual production may not end up as low as the estimates set to be released by Statistics Canada on Thursday, due to the timing of the survey. The survey […] Read more
Whole Foods slashes prices on some produce
Los Angeles/Chicago | Reuters — On its first day as part of Amazon.com, organic grocery chain Whole Foods Market slashed prices on popular items like avocados and apples on Monday by a third as it bid to shake off its “Whole Paycheque” reputation for high prices. In another sign of changes to come, a display […] Read more