Producers in southwestern and west-central Saskatchewan who lost stacked forage to wildlife feeding last winter may see a bump up in their compensation. The Saskatchewan and federal governments on Wednesday announced a “supplemental freight adjustment” to their wildlife damage compensation program, administered by Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corp. (SCIC). SCIC, the province said, has “reassessed and […] Read more
Saskatchewan to top up some claims for wildlife-damaged forage
Affected producers in southwestern, west-central areas eligible
CBOT weekly outlook: Traders, analysts anticipate WASDE report
El Nino also worth watching longer-term
MarketsFarm — While traders and analysts continue to keep an eye on weather conditions, their collective focus will momentarily shift on Friday when the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) releases its monthly world agricultural supply/demand estimates (WASDE). This month’s report will be highly significant as it will announce the first U.S. crop production estimates for […] Read more
Rain, drought highlight different growing areas
Eastern Prairies to see improved rains
MarketsFarm — Depending on which region you’re in, you could be stuck in a severe drought or facing rains that will help alleviate that dryness or push back when fields should be dry enough to begin spring planting. That’s the assessment from Drew Lerner, president and senior agricultural meteorologist at World Weather Inc. at Overland […] Read more
Alberta ‘crossing fingers’ for rain amid wildfires
CN mainline traffic west of Edmonton suspended
Reuters — Firefighters were counting on rain and cooler weather forecast for Monday to help them quell a dramatic start to Alberta’s wildfire season. The province declared a state of emergency on Saturday in response to wildfires in northern and central regions that have displaced nearly 30,000 people and prompted energy producers to shut in […] Read more
Prairie soil moisture picture growing clearer
Alberta driest; Saskatchewan variable; Manitoba mostly OK
It’s a variable soil moisture picture on the Prairies as seeding season draws nearer. The east has enough moisture — and in some cases too much. And it gets progressively drier toward the west, with portions of Alberta nearing critical condition, according to one weather watcher. Bruce Burnett, weather and markets director for the MarketsFarm […] Read more
Vast tracts of drought-hit Argentine soy fields seen going unharvested
Yet more cuts to production possible
Buenos Aires | Reuters — Argentina’s Buenos Aires grains exchange on Thursday said farmers would likely leave large tracts of soy fields unharvested due to damage from a historic drought, which could lead to more cuts to its 25 million-tonne production forecast. Argentina is the world’s top exporter of soybean oil and meal, but its […] Read more
U.S. forecaster sees 62 per cent chance of El Nino developing during May-July
Argentina, parts of U.S. could benefit; Asian crops may not
Reuters — A U.S. weather forecaster on Thursday predicted a 62 per cent chance of the El Niño phenomenon developing in the Northern Hemisphere during May-July, and a strong chance toward end-year, likely compounding risks to crops across the globe. “The coastal warming in the eastern Pacific may foreshadow changes across the Pacific basin. Therefore, […] Read more
No end in sight for deadly drought
Reading Time: < 1 minute An “unprecedented” three-year drought in the Horn of Africa is affecting tens of millions of people and the region will take years to recover, says the World Meteorological Organization, the United Nations and a host of aid organizations. But the latest forecast is for another poor rainy season. “If below-average rains do materialize, the Horn […] Read more
Wild wheat genes can make crop more tolerant to extreme heat
Large trial tested 149 wheat lines and those with exotic DNA had up to 50 per cent higher yields
Reading Time: 2 minutes Researchers have been putting wheat to the test in a Mexican desert to see if varieties with genes from wild relatives are better able to deal with hot conditions. Scientists from the Earlham Institute in Norwich, England, and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre in Mexico collaborated on the study. The latter, known as […] Read more
Argentina soybeans go from ‘worse to worser,’ expert says
Heatwave now crisping early-planted crops
MarketsFarm — Extreme heat and drought throughout most of Argentina have taken a huge toll on that country’s soybean crop. Dr. Michael Cordonnier of Soybean and Corn Advisor said the forthcoming soybean harvest is now likely to produce 25 million to 30 million tonnes, a far cry from the 40 million to 45 million tonnes […] Read more
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