MarketsFarm — Drought conditions persisted across much of the Prairies during the month of March, although the extent and severity of the dryness was reduced in many areas, according to the latest Drought Monitor report from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). “While there have been substantial improvements to drought conditions across Western Canada since last […] Read more
Drought severity easing across much of Prairies, AAFC reports
Advance Payments Program to offer 100 per cent up front
Feds temporarily waive 60 per cent up-front limit
Canadian farmers seeking pre-production cash advances under the federal Advance Payments Program ahead of this year’s spring seeding will be able to get the entire eligible amount up front. Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau on Wednesday announced a “temporary waiving” of the program’s usual requirement that pre-production cash advances be issued in instalments of 60 […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Saskatchewan growers wait for rain
MarketsFarm — As the snow melts on the Prairies, pulse growers are making their final preparations before seeding, while at the same time hoping not to see a repeat of last year’s historic drought. In Saskatchewan, snow cover has varied in pulse-growing areas, making some growers nervous. “There’s still a lot of concern about dryness […] Read more
CP disputes TSB’s conclusions on fatal grain train crash
Safety board urges automatic parking brakes, 'enhanced' brake testing for conditions
The federal Transportation Safety Board’s report into the fatal derailment of a Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) grain train in the Rocky Mountains in 2019 calls for changes to train braking systems and maintenance. CP, however, is questioning the TSB’s conclusions about the braking performance of the train involved, saying those conclusions are “based on inappropriate […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Market uncertainty all around
MarketsFarm — As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continue to swing markets up and down, typical issues and other external factors have amplified volatility in the pulse markets, according to one trader. David Newman, owner of Commodius Trading at North Saanich, B.C., explained that while the conflict in Eastern Europe is affecting markets everywhere, the usual […] Read more
Russia’s war could affect agriculture around the globe
Fallout from the invasion could prompt a rethink and reordering of current systems, say economic experts
Reading Time: 4 minutes Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will not only roil commodity markets in the short term, but could lead to some structural changes to agriculture both here and abroad. [READ MORE] Farming behind the lines in Ukraine Livestock production, the rise of faux meats, phosphorus recycling and biofuels were some of the issues raised by ag economic […] Read more
EU offers farmers aid, more land to grow due to Ukraine war
Brussels | Reuters — The European Union will distribute 500 million euros (C$692 million) to help farmers and allow them to grow crops on fallow land to mitigate food price spikes and potential shortages resulting from Russia’s war in Ukraine. Published on Wednesday, the proposals by the EU’s executive European Commission also include assistance to […] Read more
Get a tax credit on checkoffs
Reading Time: < 1 minute Crop commissions are reminding growers that they can get a tax credit for their checkoffs. The Scientific Research and Experimental Development Fund (SR&ED) program is based on the percentage of a checkoff that is used for crop research and development — an amount that varies for each crop. For barley, every $100 in 2021 checkoffs […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Lentil prices expected to hold
MarketsFarm — Prices for green and red lentils are very likely to remain relatively steady, according to Marlene Boersch of Mercantile Consulting Venture Inc. in Winnipeg. “Inventories are relatively low and there are not a lot of people to go to for green lentils in Canada,” she said. “From a buyer’s point of view, they’re […] Read more
CP service to resume as dispute goes to arbitration
Engineers, conductors to return to work Tuesday noon
Engineers, conductors and train and yard service staff at Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) will return to work by noon local time Tuesday as their labour dispute goes to arbitration. Federal Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan, attending labour talks between CP and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) in Calgary, announced Tuesday morning that the parties “have […] Read more
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