WINNIPEG — Farmers and traders are keeping a watchful eye on the weather trying to sort out feed grain supplies. “This time of year, it’s a weather market and weather has been improving in much of Saskatchewan and in some of the more critically dry areas. They got a decent amount of moisture over the […] Read more
Stories by Terry Fries
Ag balance sheet points to stable farm economy
Canadian farmers saw their farm equity climb 6.9 percent last year compared to the previous year, and Farm Credit Canada’s principal agricultural economist said that falls in line with FCC’s analysis. Data released by Statistics Canada June 20 reported that 2017 farm equity climbed $36.4 billion to $535.3 billion, compared to $500.75 billion in 2016. […] Read more
Hay shortage could make winter feeding difficult in Sask.
Many cattle producers looking for local feed this winter might have a difficult time, says Saskatchewan Agriculture’s provincial forage specialist. Terry Kowalchuk of Saskatchewan Agriculture said many cattle producers, especially in southern areas, are going to have to scratch around to find feed this winter. Kowalchuk said localized shortages will prompt industrious producers to find […] Read more
Manitoba corn harvest starts, yields show potential
Oct. 10 (CNS Canada) – Manitoba’s corn harvest is just getting underway as many producers hold off combining to provide extra dry down time. More farmers will likely get into their grain corn this week and next, said Pam de Rocquigny, general manager of Manitoba Corn Growers. “The weather looks great so, hopefully corn continues […] Read more
Manitoba soybean yields disappointing
With Manitoba farmers starting to bring in their early-maturing soybeans between intermittent rains, they may start to see the toll caused by the dry summer. Many crop analysts are seeing soybean yields below what farmers have enjoyed for the past couple years, but they stress fields are variable and longer season varieties may give different […] Read more
Prairies could return to cold, snowy tradition if La Nina arrives
WINNIPEG, Oct. 5 – The world’s major weather forecasters predict a slightly better than 50 percent chance that a La Nina weather pattern will occur this fall and winter. Most Prairie farmers could see good things happening if the system does materialize because La Nina systems tend to bring what many people think of as […] Read more
Winter cereal producers in holding pattern as clouds loom
Dry conditions in southern areas of Saskatchewan and Alberta are limiting winter cereal seeding so far, as farmers wait for rain. But that’s not the best strategy, according to Cordon Geisam, southern Saskatchewan/southeastern Alberta territorial manager for FP Genetics, a Regina-based seed company that deals in fall rye hybrids. Geisam said farmers who wait for […] Read more
Forecasted rain to cause few problems for Peace River farmers
Sept. 12 (CNS Canada) – As rain threatens to disrupt harvest in parts of the Prairies this week and next, the Peace District of northwestern Alberta is attracting added attention. While rains are forecast to be fairly general across eastern Saskatchewan and Manitoba over the next week or so, they are expected to cause minimal […] Read more
Higher Canadian dollar a new reality for rest of 2017
WINNIPEG, Sept. 7 – Higher interest rates and a stronger Canadian dollar relative to the American currency is giving Canadian farmers a double whammy. According to Farm Credit Canada’s chief agricultural economist it is a situation farmers will likely have to deal with for at least the remainder of the year. J.P. Gervais said he […] Read more
Saskatchewan pulse crops coming in ‘just beautiful’
Early misgivings about the Saskatchewan pea and lentil crops have given way to hope and optimism as the harvest rolls in from central and southern fields. While yields for most farmers are only decent, they are better than many had feared following a dry summer. However, quantity is going to be much better than what […] Read more
