MarketsFarm — Warm and dry conditions across much of the Prairies in May caused drought conditions to worsen, especially in Alberta, according to the latest Drought Monitor report from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. As of May 31, an estimated 79 per cent of the Prairie region was classified as abnormally dry (D0) or in moderate […] Read more
Drought expands across Canadian Prairies
Dry conditions push eastward in Manitoba
Prairie cash wheat: Hard red spring wheat bids rise
MGEX wheat rally offsets rising loonie
MarketsFarm — Spring wheat bids in Western Canada were mostly higher during the week ended Thursday, as a rally in Minneapolis spring wheat futures countered the bearish influence of a rising Canadian dollar. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS, 13.5 per cent protein) wheat prices were up by $8.80-$10.70 per tonne across the Prairies, according […] Read more
Calgary-area MLA named Alberta’s new ag minister
RJ Sigurdson to handle ag file, Horner moves to finance
The Alberta government’s caucus lead on emergency medical services (EMS) reform has been promoted to handle the agriculture file in a post-election cabinet shuffle. RJ Sigurdson, MLA for the constituency of Highwood, just south of Calgary, was sworn in Friday by Lt.-Gov. Salma Lakhani as Alberta’s new minister of agriculture and irrigation, replacing Nate Horner. […] Read more
Prairie Forecast: Switch in pattern but summer sticking around
Forecast issued June 7, covering June 7-14
The weather models are doing a good job handling all the heat and humidity that has been driving thunderstorms and breaking temperature records across the eastern half of the Prairies over the last week. To the west it has been a little cooler and drier, with not as much instability to deal with, but nonetheless, […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Market in a waiting game
U.S. corn, available wheat keep market supplied
MarketsFarm — The feed grain market in Western Canada is holding relatively steady for the time being as both buyers and sellers wait to get a better handle on new-crop production. “It’s a waiting game at this point between the farmer and the feedlot,” said grain merchant Jay Janzen of CorNine Commodities at Lacombe, Alta. […] Read more
Survey to look at farm stress from Alberta angle
Study to explore farmers' levels of resilience against stress
Researchers from the University of Alberta and AgKnow, the province’s farmer mental health network, are looking to build up Alberta-specific data on farming stress, mental health and well-being, and the ways in which farmers cope. They study team is “looking for farmers, ranchers, or anyone who works or lives on a farm” to participate, researchers […] Read more
Klassen: Texas flooding lifts Canadian feeder market
Fed cattle in counter-seasonal trend
For the week ending Sunday, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $6-$8 higher. In some cases, quality yearling packages traded as much as $10 above week-ago levels. Live and feeder cattle futures closed the week US$8-$9 higher as traders monitored flooding conditions in Texas. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a live basis in […] Read more
Canada on track for worst-ever wildfire season
Unusual to see fires nationwide at one time
Ottawa | Reuters — Canada is on track for its worst-ever year of wildfire destruction as warm and dry conditions are forecast to persist through to the end of the summer after an unprecedented start to the fire season, officials said on Monday. Blazes are burning in nearly all Canadian provinces and territories, and federal […] Read more
Prairie Forecast Update: Forecast pretty much on track
Update issued June 4, covering June 4-7, 2023
The heat and humidity moved into a large portion of the Canadian Prairies late last week and over the weekend as the previous general forecast played out pretty close to what the weather models predicted. There is not much change in the forecast for the next three days. The heat and humidity will continue across […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Weather market will determine grain prices
Old-crop pricing is starting to come down
MarketsFarm – To Glen Loyns of JGL Commodities at Moose Jaw, Sask., feed grains on the Canadian Prairies are in a weather market, with prices for barley, wheat and corn quite able to go either way. “If it rains it’s going to be weak. If it’s dry it’s going to be higher. A pretty tough […] Read more
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