Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to the long term normal (since 1960), most areas in Alberta experienced more snow for this time of the year than is typical. Over the past week, harvest has come to a halt due to snow flattening crops and covering swaths, followed by cold weather. It will take time for crops to dry up […] Read more
Harvest halted. Snow flattens crops, covers swaths
Alberta crop conditions as of October 11
High-quality forages tougher to find this year
CNS Canada — There seems to be no shortage of forages in Western Canada this year, as wet weather has allowed grasses to keep progressing at a steady rate. Finding high-quality hay could be the challenge, however, according to crop watchers in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. “It’s been tough for guys to put four to five […] Read more
Will the money come in fast enough this fall?
Make a list of bills coming due, expected crop sales, and make use of cash advances, says market expert
Reading Time: 2 minutes With grain prices down sharply this year, a marketing plan is especially critical, says a provincial crop market analyst. “First, assess your financial position,” said Neil Blue. “Start with a quick cash flow, which is the money inflow compared to money outflow. List the amounts and timing of bills, loans, and personal living expenses to […] Read more
Deere dealer chain Cervus to seek real estate buyer
Prairie farm machinery dealer chain Cervus Equipment Corp. plans to sell about 10 properties where it now operates dealerships and become their long-term tenant. The publicly-traded Calgary company, which operates 72 farm and industrial equipment dealerships in Canada, Australia and New Zealand, said Tuesday it plans to seek out a sale-and-leaseback deal for about 10 […] Read more
Ontario ag minister to get new powers on farm programs
Ontario’s minister of agriculture is expected to get direct authority to set up farm programming, as part of a legislative package resurrected from this spring to cut regulatory red tape. Provincial Economic Development Minister Brad Duguid on Tuesday reintroduced the Burden Reduction Act, a package of amendments meant to “reduce regulatory burdens and practices that […] Read more
Ontario to scale back renewable energy purchases
Toronto | Reuters –– Ontario will scale back its purchase of renewable power in a move expected to result in savings of up to $3.8 billion from a 2013 forecast, the provincial government said on Tuesday. It’s not clear consumers will benefit directly, though the province’s Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault told a news conference a […] Read more
Western Feedlots closure seen hurting prices
Winnipeg | Reuters — The closure of one of Canada’s biggest cattle feedlots is likely to depress prices of young cattle and the grains used to fatten them, and may increase sales to the U.S., industry officials say. Alberta-based Western Feedlots said Wednesday it will shut feeding operations early in 2017, citing poor market conditions […] Read more
Sources say GM to use Oshawa plant to expand pickup output
Toronto | Reuters — General Motors will use its Oshawa, Ont. assembly plant to expand production of pickup trucks for the North American market if a tentative agreement with Canadian auto workers is ratified, sources familiar with Canadian labour negotiations said Wednesday. Oshawa’s manufacturing plant, which employs some 2,500 workers, will install component parts and […] Read more
Major Alberta cattle feeder set to shut feedlots
Reuters — One of Canada’s biggest cattle feeding operations, Western Feedlots, said Wednesday it will close feeding operations after marketing the cattle it currently owns, due to poor market conditions. Closure of Western’s feeding operations, likely early in 2017 once its current cattle are sold, will make it more difficult for ranchers to find markets […] Read more
Wet, cool conditions continue to delay harvest
Alberta crop conditions as of September 13
Reading Time: 2 minutes Through early September, conditions have generally been cool and moderately wet. Over the past week, almost all Regions in the province have experienced hail. Additionally, a frost occurred between September 12 and 13 in most fields of the South, Central, North West and Peace Regions. The potential damage of hail or frost has not yet […] Read more