An air seeder rig seeds red lentils on a sunny day, with a number of pillowy white clouds in the sky, southeast of Delisle, Saskatchewan.

Prairie weather could mean higher prices

Lack of rainfall is putting some snap into new crop canola contracts

Growers in all three Prairie provinces are very likely to be finished seeding this week, however, the benefits of seeding crops weeks early may be cancelled out by another dry summer.

A green John Deere combine is driving down a road during harvest.

Agriculture makes slight progress on climate action: report

The most recent RBC Climate Action Institute report gave agriculture higher marks in 2024, but more substantial gains are stubborn, analyst says and may not be in line with economics

Canadian agriculture got better marks on the RBC climate report than last year.

RBC’s Climate Action 2024 report suggests that Canada lags the United States, Brazil and China in its issuance of forestry and land use carbon credits, a category that would include agriculture, despite Canada’s early adoption of sustainable farming practices like zero-till. | Screencap via rbc.com

Lack of national guidelines for ag carbon offsets flagged

Glacier FarmMedia – A national framework is needed if carbon markets are to be profitable for farmers and companies, a new report says. RBC’s Climate Action 2024 report suggests that Canada lags the United States, Brazil and China in its issuance of forestry and land use carbon credits, a category that would include agriculture, despite Canada’s early […] Read more


"COP28 will be a tremendous opportunity to promote sustainable Saskatchewan products and to build and protect our export markets by providing the environmentally friendly goods and commodities the world is looking for," announced Lt.-Gov. Russ Mirasty during the Oct. 25 throne speech. | File photo

Sask. going to COP28

Saskatchewan is planning a strong presence at COP28 in United Arab Emirates later this year to showcase the sustainability efforts of the province’s farmers and other industries. The trip was announced during the Oct. 25 throne speech read by Lt.-Gov. Russ Mirasty to open the fourth sitting of the legislature. This is likely the last […] Read more

An old farmyard in winter. A swather sits in deep snow with an old shed and metal grain bin in the background.

El Nino and chaos theory factor into weather

El Nino can affect the kind of weather we might expect this winter. The formation and movement of one system can impact how other systems behave around the world. This is called teleconnection, which refers to the long-distance relationships or connections between climate events that occur in different parts of the world. This fundamental concept […] Read more


June was warm in many parts of the North American growing areas, but broadly speaking, July saw normal temperatures until recently, when highs in the U.S. Midwest approached 40 C and parts of the Canadian Prairies saw temperatures in the low to mid 30s. | File photo

Mostly moderate temperatures lessen impact of dryness

In a summer when all the headlines have been about heat waves around the world, it is a blessing that the main grain and oilseed producing areas of North America have mostly avoided extreme heat. The news items about the record number of days that Phoenix, Arizona, had highs above 43 C and the vicious […] Read more

A close up of a charger cord plugged into the outlet of an electric car.

U.S. ethanol sector feels under siege

Industry points the finger mainly at government’s focus on electric vehicles, but recent fuel tax credits are also criticized

The product that sparked the first big global grain rally of the 21st century is under attack in the United States, according to an industry official. Various U.S. federal government regulations are promoting electric vehicles and other low-carbon options at the expense of ethanol, according to Geoff Cooper, president of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), […] Read more

An advisory panel was named in February and tasked with providing government advice on the path to net-zero emissions by 2050, but nobody on it has intimate knowledge of agriculture or farming. | File photo

Ag stakeholders weigh in on proposed climate law

Agricultural stakeholders continue to argue Canada’s proposed accountability law to achieve climate goals should be amended to include more industry representation. A parliamentary committee studying Bill C-12, the law that would set national targets for the reduction of greenhouse gasses, has been hearing testimony from witnesses throughout May and June. An advisory panel was named […] Read more


Last year was indistinguishable, so far, from 2015 as the second or
third warmest behind 2016, making 2017 "the warmest year without an El
Niño", the U.N's World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said. | File photo

2017 was second or third warmest year, behind 2016 – U.N.

OSLO (Reuters) – Last year was the second or third warmest on record behind 2016, and the hottest without an extra dose of heat caused by an El Niño event in the Pacific Ocean, the United Nations said on Thursday. Average surface temperatures in 2017 were 1.1 degree Celsius (2.0 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial times, creeping […] Read more

Canadian farmers are adopting practices that improve input efficiency, reduce greenhouse gases and protect the environment.  |  FIle photo

Agriculture focuses on environment

Feeding the world with climate smart agriculture has been a long-standing priority for Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector. Agriculture was not part of the agenda at the climate change summit in Paris, but prime minister Justin Trudeau can be proud of the important role that Canadian agriculture is playing in meeting challenges related to the […] Read more