Drought conditions in Canada at Feb. 28, 2022. (Map courtesy Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)

Most of Prairies still very dry, but recovery possible

Southern Manitoba considered out of drought

MarketsFarm — Despite the Prairies receiving above-normal amounts of precipitation during February, the great majority of the region remained highly vulnerable to more dryness going into spring, according to the Canadian Drought Monitor. The monitor’s latest report showed those areas of the Prairies tackling extreme drought to have retracted somewhat. As of Feb. 28, that […] Read more

Screenshot from an Alberta Agriculture video profiling Innisfail-based pulse and grain handler W.A. Grain and Pulse Solutions. (Alberta Agriculture and Forestry via YouTube)

W.A. Grain’s farmer suppliers to get 80 cents on dollar

CGC program to provide $5.6 million of $7.1 million owed

Farmers owed $7.1 million by W.A. Grain and Pulse Solutions, which had facilities in Alberta and Saskatchewan, will get $5.6 million, or about 80 per cent of the money owed to them, via the Canadian Grain Commission’s (CGC) Safeguards for Grain Farmers Program. “While we regret producers didn’t get 100 per cent (of what they […] Read more


(4loops/iStock/Getty Images)

Pulse weekly outlook: Manitoba growers hope timely rains follow snows

High N prices may favour pulse acres

MarketsFarm — As March 1 marked the start of meteorological spring, it feels like anything but that in southern Manitoba. One of the snowiest and coldest winters in years has been a mixed blessing for pulse growers, providing much-needed moisture for fields while also raising flood fears in some areas. Dennis Lange, a pulse specialist […] Read more




Pea weevil damage dropped in 2021

Pea weevil damage dropped in 2021

Reading Time: < 1 minute Pea leaf weevils don’t like drought either, last year’s survey of the pest suggests. “The highest damage ratings were in a few fields around Edmonton,” Alberta Agriculture reports. “There were a couple of hot spots in southern Alberta, but nothing like we have seen in previous years.” But spring conditions are key and a stretch […] Read more



(Dave Bedard photo)

Bunge says sanctions may have ‘adverse effect’ on Russian operations

Reuters — Global agricultural commodities trader Bunge said continued conflict in Ukraine and stinging sanctions on Russia could have an “adverse effect” on its operations in the breadbasket region. Bunge and rival agribusinesses ADM and Cargill suspended operations in Ukraine last week after Russia invaded its neighbour. But none have stopped their business in Russia […] Read more


(PortMetroVancouver.com)

Canada shuts ports to Russian ships over Ukraine invasion

Russian firms' Canadian holdings also under scrutiny, Freeland warns

Toronto | Reuters — Canada ratcheted up pressure on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine by shutting ports to Russian-owned ships and saying on Tuesday that holdings of all Russian oligarchs and companies in the country are under review. Canada has announced a slew of measures to isolate Russia, including imposing sanctions on Russian President […] Read more

Manitoba’s ag department is forecasting oats could be the biggest money maker this year. There’s a lot of good data in the report but growers here expect canola will be No. 1 and barley a good choice, too.

Forecasting the future: What crop will be king in the coming year?

Oats is being touted as the profitability champion, but canola’s reign also looks set to continue

Reading Time: 4 minutes Scott Keller is pretty impressed with the latest crop profitability outlook from Manitoba’s Ag Department — but he’s not buying its prediction that oats will be this year’s No. 1 money-maker. Canola is still king and its reign isn’t going to end any time soon, said the grain farmer from New Norway. “Nothing will even […] Read more