Reading Time: 2 minutes Precipitation over the past month has been very spotty across the province, resulting in variable soil moisture reserves and crop conditions. Crop condition ratings are down from a week ago for all regions, but still higher than the short and long term averages in the North East, North West and Peace Regions. For the Southern […] Read more
Crop conditions slide as soil moisture dwindles in some areas
Alberta crop conditions as of July 10, 2018
Pulse weekly outlook: Peas may find opportunities ahead
CNS Canada — Ongoing trade disputes between the U.S. and several other countries might offer short-term opportunities for Canadian peas, but do the overall industry no good, according to the executive director of Saskatchewan Pulse Growers. Carl Potts said ppeas could potentially find access to markets where the U.S. has been shut out, or in […] Read more
Beef, eggs, feed fatten Cargill’s profits
Chicago | Reuters — Strong global demand for beef and animal feed fattened grain trader Cargill’s profits in fiscal year 2018, which were also boosted by trade tensions and South American weather woes, the company said on Thursday. For the full year, adjusted operating earnings reached $3.2 billion, up six per cent from fiscal 2017 […] Read more
Research funding agency run by farmers closes its doors
Board votes to shut down Alberta Crop Industry Development Fund after funding dries up
Reading Time: 2 minutes After 17 years in operation, the Alberta Crop Industry Development Fund (ACIDF) has shuttered its doors. “Alberta Agriculture and Forestry is changing the way it handles research and development,” said Doug Walkley, the organization’s former executive director. For the past three years, the ministry has been conducting a review of how it funds ag research […] Read more
Crops improve in South, Central Alberta, other regions see declines
Alberta crop conditions as of July 3, 2018
Reading Time: < 1 minute The province endured some erratic weather this past week ranging from strong winds, a little hail, some cooler than normal temperatures and random rainfall. At this time there is standing water in some fields while others are parched. Recent rainfalls have contributed to an overall increase in surface soil moisture rated as good or better, […] Read more
CP’s signal maintainers ratify three-year deal
Signal and communications employees with Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) have voted to accept a tentative three-year deal that helped end a 33-hour work stoppage in late May. CP and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) System Council No. 11, which represents 360 CP signal maintainers, announced Friday the union’s CP members had voted 78 […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: How growers can use weather markets
CNS Canada — With seeding complete and weather now the dominant market force, pulse producers can take advantage of their unique position, if they know how. Brian Clancey of Stat Publishing said farmers have a front-row seat to what is happening in their fields and that gives them the upper hand in marketing this time […] Read more
India extends crop fumigation exemption until year-end
Paris/Mumbai | Reuters — India has extended by six months to the end of 2018 an exemption to its policy for crop cargoes to be fumigated with methyl bromide, a move that should facilitate continued imports of pulses and wheat. The Indian government has issued a letter announcing the exemption would be extended to Dec. […] Read more
Farming every acre doesn’t pay when the wind is howling
Producers are being urged to ‘rethink’ shelterbelts and how they preserve moisture and protect soil
Reading Time: 2 minutes Alberta farmers are being urged to “rethink” shelterbelts — and soil conservation experts agree. Zero till hasn’t made shelterbelts obsolete and this year’s dry conditions have shown the value of having something to disrupt the flow of hot winds blowing over fields, said Toso Bozic, Alberta Agriculture’s agro-forestry specialist. “Planting new windbreaks needs to be […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Canadian exports face market changes
CNS Canada — After a year in which Canada’s largest pulse buyer, India, imposed import tariffs, Canadian pulse crops are seeing a shift in export dynamics. Lentil and pea exports in Canada are down this year compared to last. According to data from the Canadian Grain Commission, as of June 17, lentil exports were at […] Read more
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