Montreal | Reuters — The Quebec government on Wednesday said it would spend $863 million over five years to mitigate the impact of U.S. tariffs on companies and the province’s agriculture sector. The plan would provide direct financial aid to some companies affected by the tariffs and would support investments to improve productivity, worker training […] Read more
Quebec offers aid to lessen brunt of U.S. tariffs
Saskatchewan highways minister moves to ag file
Saskatchewan’s highways and infrastructure minister is going off-road in his next cabinet assignment as minister of agriculture. David Marit, the MLA for the southwestern riding of Wood River since 2016, was named Wednesday by Premier Scott Moe to pick up the ag portfolio from Lyle Stewart. Stewart, the MLA for the south-central riding of Lumsden-Morse, […] Read more
Saskatchewan ag minister to exit cabinet
Saskatchewan’s premier expects to name a new minister of agriculture within days, as the incumbent minister steps aside to focus on cancer treatments. Lyle Stewart announced Thursday he will remain as ag minister until Premier Scott Moe names a new minister, a decision to be announced sometime this week. “I was recently diagnosed with colorectal […] Read more
Hot weather stressing crops, harvests seeing lower yields
Alberta crop conditions as of August 7, 2018
Reading Time: 2 minutes Since mid-July, variable precipitation has occurred across the province, with enough rain in some areas, while others are under dry conditions, especially in the southern part of the province. Hot temperatures added to the stress on crops and forages in dry areas, causing heat stress and pushing maturity quickly, resulting in lower than normal yields. […] Read more
Southern Sask. harvest underway
CNS Canada — Saskatchewan farmers are starting to get into fields, especially in the south where three per cent of the crop has been combined. Overall, producers in the province have combined one per cent of the crop, in line with the five-year average. Two per cent has been swathed or is ready to be […] Read more
Straw prices soar, piling pressure on N.Europe livestock farmers
In some areas straw now more expensive than grains
Hamburg | London | Reuters – Livestock and dairy farmers across northern Europe are paying soaring prices for straw used in food and bedding for cattle, as hot, dry weather across the region reduces crops. The higher bills put further pressure on farmers already facing one of their toughest summers ever; many have had to […] Read more
Harvest underway in Manitoba
CNS Canada – Dry conditions persist across Manitoba, with harvest underway in parts, according to the weekly crop report from Manitoba Agriculture released on Aug. 7. Moisture stress is becoming evident in many crops, with rainfall needed to help the grain fill. There were also storms across the province with hail damage reported during the […] Read more
Beef research funding welcomed
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Beef Cattle Research Council is praising Ottawa’s decision to put $14 million in the newest edition of a beef science cluster. The federal funding, part of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (the successor to Growing Forward) will be combined with $7 million from the national beef checkoff. The combined $21 million will be dispersed over […] Read more
Alberta crop conditions decline, hay in short supply
Alberta crop conditions as of July 31, 2018
Reading Time: 2 minutes Provincial crop condition ratings declined a further 1.2 percentage points on the week. The South and Central areas are significantly below the provincial average at 39.6 and 51.6 per cent respectively. The Northwest area is on par with the province at 65.9 while the Northeast and the Peace conditions are bringing up the average at […] Read more
Nitrate accumulation a danger in hailed-out crops, says specialist
The crop, its development stage, and the amount of nitrogen in the soil all need to be considered
Reading Time: 2 minutes Think about nitrate accumulation when salvaging cereal, oilseed, or hay crops damaged by hail, says a provincial beef and forage specialist. “Nitrate accumulation occurs in a plant when it is injured and is not able to convert nitrate to protein efficiently after a hailstorm,” said Barry Yaremcio. “In non-legume crops, water and nutrients are pushed […] Read more
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