As well as a $2,500 scholarship, 4-H youth judging winner Justin Harcourt, right, from Quill Lake, Sask., judged the First Lady Classic Nov. 21 as part of his competition prize. Judges Kirsten Fornwald, left, Mona Howe and Harcourt chose the top Shorthorn female during the individual class competitions.  |  Becky Zimmer photo

Sask. judge takes top spot at youth competition

The national youth show judge championships were held at Canadian Western Agribition in Regina last week

After an extensive two-day competition, 4-H crowned its national youth show judge champion at Canadian Western Agribition Nov. 21. Justin Harcourt from Quill Lake, Sask., took home first place after beating out 74 other competitors from across the country, including Carmen White and Rhianna Gallagher from Ontario, who placed second and third, Hillary Schneider, also […] Read more

The number of farms owned by investment firms increased 231 percent between 2008 and the second quarter of 2023, and the value of those holdings rose more than 800 percent to US$16.2 billion.  |  Reuters/Bing Guan photo

Investors hot on U.S. farmland

Reuters — Investment funds have become voracious buyers of U.S. farmland, amassing more than a million acres as they seek a hedge against inflation and aim to benefit from the growing global demand for food, according to data reviewed by Reuters and interviews with fund executives. The trend worries some U.S. lawmakers who fear corporate […] Read more

The Chinese-owned company said it was also exploring “alternative methods” to expand its shareholder base as the seeds and pesticides maker seeks to raise cash to fund organic growth and pay down debt. | Screencap via syngenta.com

Syngenta delays IPO

ZURICH, Switzerland (Reuters) — Syngenta says it is still planning to complete its US$10 billion flotation, but indicated weak financial markets made it more likely it will take place next year. The Chinese-owned company said it was also exploring “alternative methods” to expand its shareholder base as the seeds and pesticides maker seeks to raise […] Read more


There are plenty of courses and websites you can explore if you are interested in learning more about weather. This website displays weather model-based forecasts. | Screencap via tropicaltidbits.com

How to create your own weather forecast

To create your own forecast, you first need a good understanding of basic meteorology. You should know about high and low pressure areas and how the air flows around these systems. You should know about contour lines such as isobars (lines of equal pressure), isotherms (equal temperature), and even isopleths (lines of equal geopotential height […] Read more

Dr. Dan Undersander, middle, is the 2023 winner of the Canadian Forage and Grasslands Association Leadership Award. He is joined by Cedric MacLeod, executive director of CFGA, left and Eric Boot, right, chair, international exporters of CFGA. | Catherine Brown photo

U.S. forage specialist receives CFGA leadership award

The Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) presented its Leadership Award at its 14th Annual Conference, in Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia, to Dr. Dan Undersander of Wisconsin – the first non-Canadian to win this award. Also the Keynote speaker at the conference, Undersander has worked as a forage specialist for 48 years, having shared […] Read more


There is currently an annual quota of 150,000 tonnes on pea imports and they can only be brought in through the Port of Kolkata. Vivek Agrawal, a broker with JLV Agro, thinks the government could relax those restrictions, providing increased import quotas to millers. | File photo

Will India drop pea import restrictions this year?

SASKATOON — Analysts disagree on whether this will be the year that India drops its yellow pea import restrictions. There are some early-season concerns for India’s chickpea and lentil crops. “The acreage will be the same (as last year) but the production will be less because things are not good in India on the climate […] Read more

The contentious bill on carbon pricing exemptions for grain drying and barn heating and cooling will also be the subject of a House of Commons vote Nov. 29 on an opposition motion calling for the Senate to immediately pass the bill, unamended. | Getty Images

Senate delays continue for C-234

REGINA — The Senate defeated an amendment to Bill C-234 Nov. 28 but another has now been moved. The contentious bill on carbon pricing exemptions for grain drying and barn heating and cooling will also be the subject of a House of Commons vote Nov. 29 on an opposition motion calling for the Senate to […] Read more

Global wheat consumption is forecast at 804 million tonnes in 2023-24, an increase of nine million tonnes over last year. Meanwhile, production is estimated to have fallen to 787 million tonnes, a seven million tonne decline. | File photo

World-wheat stocks to fall

SASKATOON — A lot of ink has been spilled about wheat production this year but not much has been written about the other side of the ledger. Global wheat consumption is forecast at 804 million tonnes in 2023-24, an increase of nine million tonnes over last year. Meanwhile, production is estimated to have fallen to […] Read more


The outbreaks follow four outbreaks at commercial operations in October after a relatively calm spring that saw only one B.C. farm hit in April. | File photo

Bird flu makes return to southern B.C.

It’s shaping up as another November of pain for commercial poultry operators in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley as avian influenza is again wreaking havoc with 41 operations hit with outbreaks in November. The outbreaks follow four outbreaks at commercial operations in October after a relatively calm spring that saw only one B.C. farm hit in […] Read more

The program is voluntary and provided at no cost to farmers. Producers can sign up on the web, by phone or at many trade shows that run across the prairies. | File photo

Harvest sample program deadline looms

The deadline to submit to the Harvest Sample Program is fast approaching. For producers not already subscribed, it’s a good time to register for the initiative which provides free, unofficial grade and quality results for the 2024 crop. Kerri Pleskach, program manager at the Canadian Grain Commission, said registered producers must get their samples in […] Read more