MarketsFarm — Alberta Pulse Growers on Monday released Feed Benchmark Bi-Weekly Reports, providing “a consistent and unbiased estimate of the feeding value of low-tannin fababeans and feed peas” in central Alberta, central Saskatchewan and southern Manitoba. Comparing fababean and feed pea prices to other feed grains, the report stated, “Grains are softening further on the […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Benchmark report out for fababeans, feed peas
Near-normal monsoon expected in India
MarketsFarm — Monsoon rains in India are expected to be near normal in 2019, according to the first long-range forecast of the year from the India Meteorological Department. The southwest monsoon typically runs from June through September. It provides crucial moisture for the country’s agriculture sector, as it accounts for roughly 70 per cent of […] Read more
Regulator rips CN’s use of freight embargoes at West Coast
Canadian National Railway has been found in breach of its service obligations on grain and other traffic by a federal regulator aiming to crack down on the company’s use of freight embargoes. The Canadian Transportation Agency on Monday released its determination on “possible freight rail service issues in the Vancouver area” last fall. The regulator […] Read more
Crop sector eyes code of practice to showcase stewardship credentials
The initiative has widespread support among farm groups and industry
Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s early days, but work has begun on developing a code of practice for field crops — a move aimed at reassuring consumers that producers are using sustainable methods to grow food. “It’s basically on the idea level — we’ve done a little bit of work on what it could potentially look like, but it’s […] Read more
Prairies can expect unexpected from El Nino this summer
MarketsFarm — The U.S. National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center on Thursday reported a 65 per cent chance of El Nino prevailing throughout 2019’s growing season. “A weak El Nino is likely to continue through the Northern Hemisphere summer 2019 (65 per cent chance) and possibly fall (50-55 per cent chance),” the CPC’s report said. […] Read more
Grain drying study needs volunteers
Reading Time: < 1 minute Farmer volunteers are needed for a grain conditioning study being conducted by Team Alberta (the province’s wheat, barley, canola, and pulse commissions). The study will collect data on energy consumption and efficiency of grain drying and conditioning systems. Its findings will provide information for farmers regarding efficiencies; implementation or expansion of grain conditioning systems; and […] Read more
Neonic-treated canola not an ‘unacceptable risk’ for pollinators
Already facing federally mandated phase-outs from many major on-farm uses in Canada over risks to aquatic insects, neonicotinoids aren’t expected to pose “unacceptable risks” to pollinators when used on canola seed or hothouse vegetables in the meantime. Health Canada said as much Thursday as it released its final re-evaluation decisions for three neonic pesticides — […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Yellow, green pea prices vary ahead of seeding
MarketsFarm — India’s tariffs on Canadian pulses hit green and yellow peas particularly hard over the past year — and the market is still hurting as producers plan acres for 2019. Since yellow pea exports dropped significantly in the middle of the year, “there’s going to be a lot of carryover in yellow peas for […] Read more
More ag issues for Alberta’s next government
There are a host of issues that affect farm profitability — here are seven key ones
Reading Time: 2 minutes The carbon tax, research funding, and farm safety are three top-of-mind issues for Alberta’s farm leaders heading into the provincial election — but they’re not the only ones. Here’s what seven farm leaders had to say about other priorities for the next provincial government: 1. Market access “We want to make sure that, with these […] Read more
Flood concerns ease across Prairies outside southern Manitoba
MarketsFarm — A slower-than-normal spring melt has helped to alleviate most flood concerns across the Prairies, except in southern Manitoba. That part of Manitoba, especially the Red River Valley south of Winnipeg, isn’t out of the woods just yet. Flooding may still reach levels on par with high water levels reached in 2009, according to […] Read more
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