Chicago | Reuters — Scorching temperatures in the southern U.S. Plains are stressing cattle as well as crops such as cotton, corn and soybeans, meteorologists and traders said on Tuesday. Temperatures were forecast to reach 111 F (44 C) in parts of the Texas Panhandle, a core area for cotton and cattle production. While much […] Read more
Sizzling heat stresses livestock, crops in southern U.S. Plains
More than 200 people die as drought ravages northeast Uganda
Kampala | Reuters — More than 200 people have died from hunger this month in northeastern Uganda, where a prolonged drought and rampant insecurity have left more than half a million facing starvation, a local official and a charity worker said. Inhabited by nomadic pastoralists, the semi-arid and remote Karamoja region on the border with […] Read more
The world loves our wheat, but just wishes there was more of it
Global buyers deeply worried given the war in Ukraine and the low supply from Canada
Reading Time: 2 minutes ‘Holy cow, prices are high!’ That’s what some of Canada’s desperate grain customers are probably saying right now, says Todd Hames, the outgoing chair at Cereals Canada. “We have quite a few loyal customers in the world and they’re looking for Canadian wheat because of the quality and consistency of our products,” said the Alberta […] Read more
Drought conditions remain in Alberta, Saskatchewan
MarketsFarm — After copious amounts of precipitation alleviated the most severe drought conditions in Saskatchewan and Alberta, there were still some areas dealing with extreme dryness entering July, according to the Canadian Drought Monitor. At the end of June, only 22 per cent of the Prairie region was classified in the Abnormally Dry (D0) to […] Read more
Flea beetles an issue in parts of Saskatchewan
MarketsFarm — Delays to spring seeding in some regions of Saskatchewan, such as the northeast, have opened the door for infestations of flea beetles, according to provincial pest management specialist James Tansey. Canola crops that were planted later than normal are suffering from flea beetles, he said. Extremely late-seeded canola has been relatively free from […] Read more
Keep an eye out for drought-caused nutrient deficiency in your cattle
Nutrient deficiencies have ripple effects, including slower gain and lower pregnancy rates
Reading Time: 4 minutes Feeding cattle through last year’s drought was tough enough — but for some producers, its impact on the health of their cattle isn’t over. “The biggest challenge for producers through the drought was finding good-quality feed for a feasible price. A lot of low-quality fibre like straw was fed,” said Courtney O’Keefe, ruminant nutritionist at […] Read more
Rain sprouts hope among southern Alberta farmers
The subsoil moisture bank is empty, so many will need rain every week or two
Reading Time: 4 minutes Recent rain has prevented a disaster for many farmers, but additional moisture is needed to sustain crops and pastures through summer. “It’s actually lightened the mood quite a bit around my area,” said Jason Hale, vice-chair of Alberta Beef Producers, who ranches near Bassano. “But in saying that, we’ve been so dry that it’s going […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Peas, lentils faring well but threats remain
MarketsFarm — Growing conditions for peas and lentils in Saskatchewan during the spring can be described as variable. While western parts of the province continued to endure dry conditions carried over from last year’s drought, regions in the east were drenched with near-continuous rainfall to go along with below-normal temperatures. Lionel Ector, president of Diefenbaker […] Read more
Cattle leaders in talks with province as drought enters second year
But government help may not be enough to stave off major cull this year
Reading Time: 4 minutes Beef producers may need to further reduce their herds and seek government aid for a second year in a row if drought conditions persist, says Alberta Beef Producers. The organization is already talking to the province about potential assistance, said vice-chair Jason Hale, a cow-calf producer in the Bassano area. “It’s tough, because we don’t […] Read more
Rains bring much-needed moisture to Alberta’s south
MarketsFarm — Rains across southern and central regions of Alberta were both much-needed and well-received during the week ended Tuesday. Both regions received 20 to 50 millimetres of precipitation, according to the province’s weekly crop report released Friday. The amount of rain that fell onto the south region was equivalent to the amount of precipitation […] Read more
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