“Numerous early season storms have resulted in a number of claims for the industry,” CCHA Chairman Scott McQueen of Palliser Insurance said in a statement. “Cereals have generally fared better as many were hit in the grassy stages of development and minimal damage to the plant was caused with environmental conditions being favourable so that crops that were hit by hail are able to recover.”

Cereals withstood storms better: CCHA
Approximately 1,000 crop damage claims made from storms between June 23 and July 1

Saskatchewan Crop Report: Warm conditions advancing crop development
Warm and mostly dry conditions across Saskatchewan helped crops advance in their development during the week ended July 8, according to the latest provincial report.

Former crop centre reboots as Western Crop Innovation
New organization aims to expand focus to new crops, ag innovation
Reading Time: 4 minutes [UPDATED: May 1, 2024] The Field Crop Development Centre at Lacombe, Alta., has a new name and identity that reflects a broadening focus. Now called Western Crop Innovation as of April 1, it will build on a long history of barley breeding and agronomy research and expand to include a wider array of crop research. […] Read more

EU Parliament approves weakened green rules for farmers
European Union proposals to weaken the green conditions attached to the bloc's subsidies for farmers won backing from the European Parliament on Wednesday, as policymakers attempt to quell protests across Europe.

Canary seed growers optimistic for 2024
David Nobbs, chair of the Canary Seed Development Commission of Saskatchewan and pulse merchant for Purely Canada Foods, said exports are on pace for 110,000 to 120,000 tonnes in 2023-24, compared to 150,000 to 160,000 in a typical year. Statistics Canada (StatCan) projected 125,000 tonnes of exports for 2023-24, compared to 147,000 the previous year.

WTO meeting seeks modest outcomes, with global trade at ‘critical juncture’
Striking deals by consensus becoming more difficult amid signs global economy fragmenting
Trade ministers from around the world gathered in Abu Dhabi on Monday for a World Trade Organization meeting that aims to set new global commerce rules, but its chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and delegates sought to curb expectations.

Striking Rogers Sugar workers reach tentative deal
The walk-out sparked sugar shortages and led Alberta sugar beet producers to call for more local investment
Rogers Sugar says it's reached a tentative deal with the union representing striking workers from its Vancouver refinery.

Alberta dwarfs the Prairies in hail claims
It’s not just because we get more hail, says crop insurance expert
Reading Time: 3 minutes When a province has a huge chunk of its geography referred to as “hailstorm alley,” it’s not surprising crop producers would get a lot of payouts for hail damage. But does that alone explain why total insurance payouts for hail damage in Alberta are about seven times more than the other Prairie provinces? According to […] Read more

Hepworth honoured for agricultural achievements
The London, Ont. resident started as a Sask. farmer and vet before moving to politics, then research
Lorne Hepworth, former Saskatchewan agriculture minister and current chair of the Agriculture Research Institute of Ontario, has been named a member of the Order of Canada.

Weather Network predicts mild winter, with caveats
Colder scenario expected for East
MarketsFarm — Strong El Niño conditions that have developed in the Pacific Ocean would typically lead to a milder winter across Canada — but other factors this year could challenge that outlook, according to the winter forecast from The Weather Network, released Wednesday. The winter forecast features a mild start to the season, with a […] Read more