As we move into the official start of meteorological summer, it is looking like we have left spring behind and summer is here to stay. While this is great for those of us who like heat, humidity and thunderstorms, it can make it difficult to create an accurate forecast. The large areas of low pressure […] Read more

NEW FEATURE: Prairie Forecast: Summer has definitely moved in
Forecast issued May 31, 2023, covering May 31 to June 7, 2023

Pulse weekly outlook: Manitoba crops get good start but need rain
Some bean growers seek moisture at lower planting depths
MarketsFarm — Pulse growers in Manitoba are waiting for one thing: rain. So far in May, growing areas of the province have not seen any significant precipitation, according to Dennis Lange, industry development specialist for pulse crops with Manitoba Agriculture. Dry beans, he said, are the last pulse crop farmers have been planting in Manitoba […] Read more

Prairie Forecast Update: A few small tweaks
Forecast issued May 28, covering the period from May 29 to 31
The weather regime across southern and central Canada is currently being dominated by a large sprawling surface high over eastern regions with a slowly digging trough of low pressure over the West Coast. The flows around these two features have been producing warm summer-like conditions across the eastern Prairies with slightly cooler conditions as you […] Read more

Prairie cash wheat: Spring wheat bids drop
Influx of cheap Russian wheat largely responsible for price declines
MarketsFarm – Red spring wheat bids in Western Canada were down, while durum prices were mixed during the week ended May 25, after the release of bearish data. On May 23, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) presented its monthly principal field crop report, which estimated 2023-24 wheat production (including durum) at 35.75 million tonnes. This […] Read more

Feed weekly outlook: Rain falls, grain prices to follow
U.S. corn values expected to decline
MarketsFarm — Feed grain prices in Western Canada are showing the usual seasonal weakness as spring seeding continues, but prices are set to fall further. “I think as we get going, (prices) are going to lower down quite a bit,” Mike Fleischhauer of Eagle Commodities Ltd. at Lethbridge said. “The corn market over the next […] Read more

NEW FEATURE: Prairie Forecast: Summerlike conditions moving in
Forecast issued May 24, 2023, covering May 24-31, 2023
As we head into the final week of May, it is looking to be very summerlike across much of the Prairies. Currently there is a strong area of cool high pressure centred over the Great Lakes. This area of high pressure is what brought cool and windy conditions to the eastern Prairies on Wednesday. As […] Read more

Prairie Forecast Update: A few small tweaks
Update issued May 21, 2023, covering May 21-24, 2023
The weather models are continuing to do a good job with the short- to medium-range forecasts, but there have been a couple of small changes that have been slowly working into the forecast. Weak troughing off the West Coast is still forecasted to kick off the development of a leeside low in Alberta. This low […] Read more

Feed weekly outlook: Barley market steady for now
Feedlots still importing U.S. corn
MarketsFarm — Feed barley bids in Western Canada continue to hold steady, while attention in the market turns to the new crop going into the ground. “There currently is an uptick in demand for quick movement presenting good opportunities for producers ready to sell,” Alberta grain brokerage Agfinity said in a note to clients. “However, […] Read more

Prairie cash wheat: Bids soften
Chicago, Minneapolis wheats down on week
MarketsFarm — Spring wheat bids in Western Canada softened during the week ended Thursday, as the bearish influence of the extended Black Sea Grain Initiative more than countered any support from poor winter wheat production prospects in the U.S. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS, 13.5 per cent protein) wheat prices were down by $3.60-$6.70 […] Read more

No respite expected for wildfire-hit Alberta
Forecasts call for fire conditions to worsen
Ottawa | Reuters — Abnormally hot and dry weather is set to return to Alberta on Thursday after a couple of cooler days helped calm wildfires that have forced thousands of evacuations in the province. Record-high temperatures and tinder-dry vegetation have led to an intense, early start to wildfire season in Western Canada this year. […] Read more