With bird flu outbreaks and last spring’s weather woes in mind, farmers and ranchers in British Columbia are now spotted until the end of June to enrol in AgriStability. The province and the federal ag department on Tuesday announced they’ve agreed on a late participation option for the 2022 program year. In this case, the […] Read more

B.C. farmers granted late entry for AgriStability
Avian flu, 'extreme weather' events considered

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

‘Normal’ spring ahead for most of the Prairies
Below-normal rains expected for southern Alberta, western Saskatchewan
MarketsFarm — Canada’s Prairies are looking at normal temperatures over the next month to three months, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). The federal department on Tuesday issued its temperature and precipitation probabilistic forecasts, which also called for normal precipitation for most of the region. “The forecast is really neutral for the Prairies, […] Read more

Nova Scotia to bridge Fiona funding gap for farmers
Provincial program offering up to $400K per farm
Nova Scotia farmers who didn’t qualify for federal disaster financial assistance (DFA) in the wake of Hurricane Fiona last September may be able to get in on a new provincial program instead. The province on Thursday announced $3 million for what it calls the Fiona Agriculture Response Gap Funding program, offering up to $400,000 for […] Read more

Round 2 of climate grants opening
Reading Time: < 1 minute Applications for the second round of grants from the On Farm Climate Action Fund open today. RDAR, the agency delivering most of Alberta’s share of the $200-million federal program, has posted new resources on its website. They include an updated seven-page FAQ document that answers common questions on eligibility, applying, receiving funding, and general program […] Read more

The net-zero movement is unstoppable, but farmers will adapt
Reducing emissions is do-able; the key is persuading Ottawa to chart a sensible course, says farm leader
Reading Time: 4 minutes Keep calm, stay flexible and farm on. These were the main messages from a panel on greenhouse gas emissions at the recent CrossRoads conference. Canada, and every member of the G7 and 120 other nations, has committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, the manager of government and policy relations for the Grain Growers […] Read more

Insurer moves to monthly drought coverage payouts
AFSC also cancelling pasture coverage program that relied on satellite imagery
Reading Time: < 1 minute Producers can expect several changes to Agriculture Financial Services Corporation’s insurance products for 2023. The changes include a move to monthly payments for Moisture Deficiency Insurance, an increase in the reseeding benefit compensation rate, the addition of a bear predation pilot project (for hives and bees) to the Wildlife Damage Compensation Program, increased coverage for […] Read more

Prairies’ warmer spell to be usurped by arctic front
MarketsFarm — While the Prairies have so far this month experienced rather non-January-like temperatures, a cold front coming south from the Arctic will soon descend on the region, according to Scott Kehler, president and chief scientist of Weatherlogics in Winnipeg. “What we are seeing is a big change in the weather pattern. For most of […] Read more

Storms to bring rain to parched Argentine fields next week, grains exchange says
Drought has limited soy, corn planting
Reuters — A storm front should bring moderate to abundant rainfall across most of Argentina’s key agricultural area over the next week, the Buenos Aires grains exchange said on Thursday, which could help farmers plant their fields after a historic drought. Lack of rainfall in Argentina, the world’s largest exporter of soybean oil and meal […] Read more

California rainstorms fade as death toll reaches 20
Drought to remain an issue for much of state
Reuters — The parade of atmospheric rivers that pounded California for three weeks finally faded on Monday, enabling the state to begin lengthy repairs to roads and levees as the White House announced U.S. President Joe Biden planned to survey the damage. The nine consecutive rainstorms that inundated California in succession since Dec. 26 killed […] Read more