U.S. winter weather to see El Nino’s influence

U.S. winter weather to see El Nino’s influence

Tampa | Reuters — Much of the U.S. South can expect a cooler and wetter winter, while warmer-than-usual temperatures are likely across many northern and western states, as a strong El Nino weather pattern shaped a government weather outlook issued Thursday. More rain and snow are likely across the nation’s southern regions, extending from central […] Read more

Dry weather keeps harvest rolling, pasture conditions rate poor

Dry weather keeps harvest rolling, pasture conditions rate poor

Alberta Crop Conditions as of October 13, 2015

Reading Time: 2 minutes Dry and warm weather has facilitated harvest progress during the past week. Provincially, 87 per cent of crops have been harvested, up 14 per cent from last week, while nine per cent of crops are still in swath (down eight per cent from a week ago) and four per cent remain standing (down six per […] Read more


(MasseyFerguson.us)

Hay prices stabilize in Sask., Man.

CNS Canada –– Timely rains have drastically improved the forage crop outlooks for Saskatchewan and Manitoba, while also putting prices back into their normal ranges. “Skyrocketing hay prices have stabilized… supplies are good,” said Terry Kowalchuk, a provincial forage crop specialist in Regina. Prices are mostly back down into the $80-$100 per tonne range, he […] Read more

(Barry Wilmore photo courtesy NASA)

Global markets: Kenya prompted to cut back on spending

CNS Canada, Oct. 16 — The following is a glance at the news moving markets globally. KENYA PROMPTED TO CUT EXPENDITURE BY IMF AND WORLD BANK – The World Bank and International Monetary Fund advised the Kenyan government to stop spending on non-priority projects. The country’s treasury has been borrowing shillings at a high interest […] Read more


(UFA.com)

Alta., U.S. ag co-ops partner on fertilizer plant

The Canadian arm of U.S. farm, fuel and agrifood co-op CHS is moving to expand its stake in Alberta’s ag input retail market, this time partnering with one of Canada’s top ag co-ops. CHS Canada and Alberta’s UFA announced a partnership deal Wednesday for a seed and crop input retail operation, plus agronomic and advisory […] Read more



Canola Field aerial

American farmland titan eyes Canada

Farmers National manages two million acres in the U.S.

Reading Time: 4 minutes One of America’s largest farm management and real estate brokerages has expanded into the Canadian Prairies — starting with Alberta. Through a joint partnership with Edmonton-based consulting firm Serecon, Farmers National Company is now “open for business” in Canada. “It seemed like the right fit for the right timing going into the Canadian market,” said […] Read more

Hand and harvester

Cool, wet conditions shut down harvest, yields continue to improve

Alberta Crop Conditions as of October 6, 2015

Reading Time: 2 minutes Producers were able to make good use of a few days of good harvest weather this past week before being shut down again by cool, wet conditions on the weekend. Over 72 per cent of the province has now been harvested, up 15 percentage points from last week. A further 17 per cent of crops […] Read more


Pricey hay is making alternatives more attractive, 
but the diets must be balanced.

Straw and chaff are a good — but incomplete — diet

Provincial forage specialist Barry Yaremcio offers guidelines for mineral supplementation

Reading Time: 3 minutes Turning cows out onto stubble fields is a good feed choice, but there are some things to consider, says a provincial beef and forage specialist. Cattle “pick and choose” what they want when grazing stubble, slough hay, or mature hay growing along the fences and headlands, said Barry Yaremcio. Straw, chaff, and overmature grass hays […] Read more

Pastures are vulnerable to common tansy, which can poison livestock.

This poisonous invader is growing in numbers

Reading Time: < 1 minute Introduced from Europe in the 1600s as an ornamental species, common tansy (sometimes called tangee) has been spotted across central Alberta and its numbers have been on the rise in recent years. The weed is particularly threatening in pasture and riparian habitats, but can also be found in disturbed soils and flower beds. Most livestock […] Read more