Lentils. (Seb_ra/iStock/Getty Images)

Pulse weekly outlook: India dispute leaves lentils’ future uncertain

India was Canada's top customer in 2022-23

MarketsFarm — As tensions between Canada and India remain very high, the future direction for Canadian lentils continued to be uncertain. “Your guess is as good as mine,” Marcos Mosnaim of Export Packers said as to what could happen, adding “Canada has to be careful. I don’t know what India will do.” Prime Minister Justin […] Read more

Pasta manufacturing in Italy

High pasta prices set to boil over as Canada’s wheat withers

Drought in Prairie durum-growing region is adding to existing global supply woes

Reading Time: 3 minutes Pasta lovers must brace to pay higher prices for their favourite dish, as drought in Canada and bad weather in Europe damages durum wheat crops and reduces supplies available to flour millers and food companies. Italy’s government called a crisis meeting in May as prices for the staple food jumped by more than double the […] Read more


File photo of young birds on a Canadian broiler operation. (Elena Bionysheva-Abramova/iStock/Getty Images)

High-path avian flu pops back up in Saskatchewan, Alberta

Canada keeps sights on 'country-level freedom' from virus

Even after 21 months of highly pathogenic avian influenza cases in Canada — including three new cases in domestic birds so far this month — Canada’s “stamping out” policy for the virus remains in effect. Canada’s active caseload of the virus now comes down to just eight of the 325 premises affected since December 2021. […] Read more

(Iggi_Boo/iStock/Getty Images)

Pulse weekly outlook: Canada’s prices well supported given smaller crops

Dispute between Canada, India to be watched closely

MarketsFarm — Canadian pulse production came in well below average in 2023, keeping prices supported for the time being. Total pea production was pegged at 2.27 million tonnes by Statistics Canada on Thursday. That was up slightly from the 2.19 million tonnes forecast in August, but well off the 3.42 million tonnes grown the previous […] Read more


(FatCamera/E+/Getty Images Canada)

Major grocery chains agree to help stabilize prices, feds say

Any moves must not undercut farmgate prices, government warns

Ottawa | Reuters — Canada’s five major grocery chains have agreed to help the government in its bid to stabilize soaring prices, a senior minister said on Monday, following talks to address an issue that is hurting the ruling Liberals. Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne made the announcement after two hours of what he said were […] Read more

File photo of the produce section at a Canadian grocery store. (FatCamera/E+/Getty Images)

Trudeau summons top grocers over rising food prices

Major grocers' level of profit 'does not make sense,' PM says

Ottawa | Reuters — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday said he had summoned the country’s top grocers to help find solution to the surging food prices and vowed to cut federal taxes on new rental buildings, as he fights an affordability crisis that has dented his party’s opinion poll ratings. After meeting with Liberal […] Read more


File photo of seasonal agriculture workers from Jamaica at Suncrest Orchards near Simcoe, Ont. (Farmtario photo by Diana Martin)

UN rapporteur calls Canada’s TFW system ‘breeding ground for modern slavery’

Tomoya Obokata says government needs to better protect worker rights and provide better residency path

A United Nations special rapporteur on modern slavery has called out Canada’s temporary foreign worker (TFW) programs, including those in the agriculture sector. Tomoya Obokata, who was appointed by the UN’s Human Rights Council, spoke in Ottawa Sept. 6 following a 14-day visit to Canada. He called the programs “a breeding ground for contemporary forms […] Read more

(Christophe Paul photo courtesy USDA)

USDA adjusts soy, corn outlooks in September report

U.S. wheat usage, carryout estimates shift

MarketsFarm — The U.S. Department of Agriculture made a number of slight changes to its forecast on soybeans and corn for 2023-24, while keeping its domestic wheat numbers from August. USDA on Tuesday issued its monthly world agricultural supply and demand estimates, adjusting its forecast on this year’s soybean yields at 50.1 bushels per acre, […] Read more


U.S. COOL proposal unlikely to affect Canadian beef

U.S. COOL proposal unlikely to affect Canadian beef

Reading Time: 2 minutes Proposed American legislation could see distributors fined for meat that is improperly labelled as “Made in the USA,” but industry experts north of the border say it is unlikely to pass muster. The bill would set out processor fines of $5,000 per pound of beef that doesn’t meet label standards. COOL, or country-of-origin labelling, surged […] Read more

File photo of a federal office building in downtown Winnipeg. (Dave Bedard photo)

Canada’s canola carryout up on year, wheat down slightly

Barley, oats, peas also up on year

MarketsFarm — Canadian canola ending stocks edged higher in 2022-23, while wheat carryout was slightly lower, according to the latest stocks data from Statistics Canada, released Friday. Barley, oats and peas also saw increases on the year, while lentil supplies tightened. Total wheat stocks as of July 31, at 3.58 million tonnes were down by […] Read more