Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) is forecasting 8.27 million acres of canola, a four percent drop from last year. But it is dry in Western Australia and if it remains that way over the next month canola area could see "considerable" further declines, according to a recent report by the bank. | Getty Images

Canola competition stiffens; demand rises

SASKATOON — There are differing reports about what to expect from Canada’s top canola competitor this year. Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) is forecasting 8.27 million acres of the oilseed, a four per cent drop from last year. Related stories: However, it is dry in Western Australia, and if it remains that way over the […] Read more

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland made little mention of agriculture in her speech following the tabling of the budget this afternoon, though she touched on issues like carbon pricing and green technology. | Screencap via Intagram/SenCanada

Federal budget promises lower costs, interest relief for farmers

Budget 2024 will see approximately $52 billion spent over five years

Glacier FarmMedia – The 2024 federal budget, tabled today, promises several benefits for Canadian farmers. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland made little mention of agriculture in her speech following the tabling of the budget this afternoon, though she touched on issues like carbon pricing and green technology. However, chapter three of the budget, titled “lowering everyday […] Read more

"Project delays in 2023, 2024 and into 2025 have slowed the growth of crush capacity," the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) stated in a recent report. |  Getty Images

Coming canola crush capacity delayed

SASKATOON — Canada’s canola crush buildout is not going as smoothly as planned, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “Project delays in 2023, 2024 and into 2025 have slowed the growth of crush capacity,” the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) stated in a recent report. Related stories: Capacity is expected to reach 10.26 million […] Read more


Farm commodity groups have been pushing the provincial government for less-costly class one licensing procedures for producers and their employees for some time. | File photo

Alberta gets farm family class one driver’s license

Glacier FarmMedia – Alberta farmers and their family members now have the option to apply for a farm-restricted class one driver’s licence. It would allow them to drive almost any form of motor vehicle to and from the farm. These licenses with be issued with condition code “P” meaning the driver must comply with farmer […] Read more

The amount of UCO being imported into the United States has surprised everyone, including the U.S. government. Imports in 2023 were large enough to produce 600 million gallons of the fuel. | Reuters photo

Used cooking oil amount proves surprising

SASKATOON — Canada’s canola oil is facing stiff competition from used cooking oil (UCO) and tallow in renewable diesel markets. The amount of UCO being imported into the United States has surprised everyone, including the U.S. government. Imports in 2023 were large enough to produce 600 million gallons of the fuel. Related stories: That exceeds […] Read more


Significant surface runoff and pooled water in many prairie growing regions gives the impression soils will get a decent recharge this spring. However, Phillip Harder, hydrological scientist and research director at Croptimistic Technology, said the late fall rains and freezing at the soil surface, combined with multiple midwinter melts, will likely restrict the amount of water that makes it into the soil. He said on many fields much of the snowmelt will run off or accumulate in field depressions, which will end up doing the heavy lifting when it comes to crop production if rains are sparse this summer.  |  Phillip Harder photo

Dry summer still indicated

SASKATOON — World Weather Inc. believes much of the United States and portions of the Canadian Prairies will experience drought in the summer of 2024. That forecast is based on an analysis of the 18-year lunar cycle. “I’ve looked at six analog years and all six of them have a drier and warmer bias for […] Read more

APAS has called for Parliament to pass Bill C-234 in its original form, to provide a carbon price exemption for natural gas and propane used to dry grain and heat barns and greenhouses.  |  File photo

Recent carbon price hike pushes issue to top agenda

REGINA —Opposition to the federal carbon tax ramped up last week as several premiers called for a meeting with the prime minister to discuss the issue. Many have opposed carbon pricing since it was implemented in 2019 but the rhetoric has been heating up due to cost-of-living pressures. The hike in the consumer tax earlier […] Read more

Under the preliminary model, which could be released by May 15, ethanol is not expected to automatically qualify as a feedstock in the SAF subsidy program unless the corn involved is sourced from farmers using one of just three sustainable agriculture techniques, the sources said.
 | File photo

Corn-fuelled flight faces restrictions

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Biden administration will soon release a preliminary climate model for its sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) subsidy program that is more restrictive than what the corn-based ethanol industry had expected, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Under the preliminary model, which could be released by May 15, ethanol is not […] Read more


If the reports out of Russia on plans to increase durum production materialize, demand and pricing in the next year will be affected, said Leif Carlson, director of market intelligence and trade policy with Cereals Canada. However, he noted news out of Russia isn’t always reliable.  |  File photo

Global durum competition is heating up

Russia could drastically increase durum production this year, but could be shut out of the European Union market

SASKATOON — Canada could face stiff competition in durum markets in 2024-25 as Russia ramps up production. Rossella Polito, an Italian durum farmer who posts as @spiga_dorata on the X social media platform, said the Russian Grain Union reports that farmers will plant 2.47 million acres of durum this year, double the size of last […] Read more

The Texas outbreak may have started about a month ago when a mysterious illness affected about 40 per cent of the state’s dairy herds, according to Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller. | File photo

Bird flu hits Texas dairy cows, hens, human as ducks migrate

REUTERS — The U.S. Center for Disease Control issued a health alert April 5 warning clinicians, state health departments and the public about a case of avian influenza in a person who had contact with dairy cows presumed to be infected with the virus. The farm worker from Texas was reported to be infected on […] Read more