CNS Canada — After this fall’s long, drawn-out harvest, some analysts predict Statistics Canada’s final Production of Principal Field Crops numbers could vary from the usual pattern. StatsCan’s report, due out Thursday, is a “very uncertain” report “because that was probably one of the most bizarre falls we’ve ever had on the Prairies,” said Ken […] Read more
December StatsCan report could vary from years past
Cold, wet weather delays Prairie sunflower harvest
CNS Canada — For sunflowers it was a tough year that began with dry conditions at seeding time, then more dry weather in July and August, only to be topped off by a cold, wet fall. The quality of sunflowers, however, is said to be pretty good in Western Canada. Darcelle Graham, executive director of […] Read more
U.S. government report says climate change will batter economy
Reuters — Climate change will cost the U.S. economy hundreds of billions of dollars by the end of the century, hitting everything from health to infrastructure, according to a government report issued on Friday that the White House called inaccurate. The congressionally mandated report, written with the help of more than a dozen U.S. government […] Read more
Mustard prices weather the weather, remain flat
CNS Canada — Although mustard prices are flat, the ill-tempered weather experienced on the Prairies this fall had little effect on the crop’s quality. Jamie Stelmachowich of Besco Grain Ltd. at Homewood, Man. said despite the cold, wet weather, most mustard has been graded higher at No. 1 or 2. “The seed was turned already. […] Read more
Alberta farmers try to wrap up ‘very unusual year’
CNS Canada — As winter approaches, producers in Alberta are still in the fields trying to wrap up the last bit of the 2018 harvest. According to the final crop report issued by Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, about six per cent of all crops were still in the field at the end of October. The […] Read more
More — but less severe — hailstorms this year
June was the busiest month for hail claims in Alberta but July had the worst ones, says hail insurers
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta’s quiet storm activity resulted in below-average hail losses in the province this year. There was an early start to the hail season, with June 9, 14 and 25 being the top three storm dates — producing more than 100 claims and averaging more than $12,000 per claim. However, the most expensive storm dates were […] Read more
Trends stand out in StatsCan crop data: report
CNS Canada — Second-guessing Statistics Canada’s crop information may be a time-honoured tradition across the Prairies, but there are trends in the data that stand out, according to a recent report from the government agency. Looking at data over the past decade, total seeded canola acres were revised higher in the June survey compared to […] Read more
El Nino developing as Western Canada recovers from drought
CNS Canada – Despite above normal precipitation over the last couple of months, when comes to the drought, the Prairies are not out of the woods as winter approaches. We are headed into an El Nino, at least according to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,” said Bruce Burnett, […] Read more
Back in the (harvest) saddle again
Reading Time: < 1 minute The return of decent weather has allowed farmers across Alberta to finally get back in their fields. This photo was taken east of Didsbury on Oct. 15, when temperatures in the low double digits had erased the last vestiges of unseasonably early snow.
Self-checking field health mapping system launched
The farmer’s job of poring over satellite field maps looking for disease, weed and insect trouble is about to go automatic. Winnipeg-based digital ag consulting firm Farmers Edge recently released Health Change Maps and Notifications, a new function that automatically scans the company’s daily satellite imagery and alerts growers of any changes in field health […] Read more