Area seeded to pulse crops in the United States should see a significant increase in 2024, with early indications pointing to more lentils, chickpeas, peas and edible beans going in the ground this spring.

U.S. pulse area to rise in 2024

Cal-Maine Foods halts egg production at Texas facility after detecting bird flu
American egg producer Cal-Maine Foods has temporarily halted production at its Texas facility after detecting avian influenza, which has led to the culling of about 1.6 million laying hens, the company said today.

National school food program announced
Federal government says program aims to start with 2024/25 school year
The federal government plans to spend over $1 billion over five years on a national school food program that will feed an additional 400,000 school-aged children a year.

Klassen: Feeder market resumes the climb
For the week ending March 30, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $4 to $6 higher on average. Fleshier backgrounded yearlings were relatively unchanged. Buyers were fairly cautious on backgrounded heifers with some packages actually softer than seven days earlier. Larger strings of quality genetic, low flesh steers were up $6 to as much as $10 in some cases. Weaned, premium, calves were up a solid $5 to $6 on average.

U.S. grains: Corn sinks on big supplies; wheat down on good winter crop outlook
U.S. grain futures fell on Monday as pressure from ample supplies partly unraveled steep gains late last week following a U.S. Department of Agriculture report that projected lower-than-expected U.S. corn plantings.

U.S. livestock: CME cattle plunge as bird flu fears spark speculative selloff
Chicago Mercantile Exchange live and feeder cattle futures plunged on Monday on market uncertainty following news of a human case of avian influenza in a person who had contact with infected dairy cows.

Western Prairies to be cooler, wetter than eastern half
With spring planting on the Canadian Prairies a few weeks to a month away, the region’s weather outlook is very likely to take somewhat different paths, according to Scott Kehler of the Manitoba-based Weatherlogics.

Avian influenza detected in person exposed to dairy cattle
Alberta Milk issues new biosecurity, human safety guidelines
A human case of avian influenza has been confirmed in a person who had contact with dairy cows presumed to be infected with the virus, Texas and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today.

Organics: Planting decisions still to be made
In the midst of dryness in Western Canada and an organics market stuck in a standstill, organic growers are making decisions on what to plant in the coming weeks. Chances are, they may be dictated by their own rotations.

Dairy bird flu cases creep closer to Canada
Michigan and Idaho become fourth and fifth state to confirm virus in dairy cattle
Idaho has become the newest U.S. states to identify highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a dairy cattle operation, the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (IDSA) confirmed March 30.