Ag News

Organic farming businesses gathered virtually to discuss some of the latest events in the market, and how some sectors look to move forward.

One of those businesses is Bioriginal, which provides organic and nonorganic specialty crops for consumers and businesses.

Derek McDonald, director of bioagronomy and vendor relations, says he found the year was tough for getting contract work.

A Swift Current-based company expanding into southern Alberta has obtained some financial backing.

The Government of Alberta committed $1.3 million to the S3 Group's new $7 million facility in Medicine Hat through its Investment and Growth Fund (IGF grant) today.

Richelle Andreas, the CEO of S3 Group, thanked the provincial government for the investment calling them exceptional partners.

The October World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report is better than anticipated.

U.S. oilseed production for 2023/24 is forecast at 120.9 million tonnes, down 1.3 million from last month with lower soybean production, while the crush is up about 10 million driven by higher soybean meal exports.

Senior market analyst with FarmLink Marketing Solutions Neil Townsend says these are just their estimates but they did some work on the global scale for soybeans and took the global ending stocks down by about four to five million tonnes.

Harvest operations across the province are starting to wind down. 

Dennis Lange, the provincial pulse specialist writes the report and notes limited harvest progress was made last week as a result of the rain. 

Lange notes that 90 per cent of the provincial crop is now in the bin, which is ahead of the 5-year average.

The canola harvest continues with approximately 94 per cent of acres being harvested provincially. Overall crop condition ranges from fair to mostly good with yields ranging from 20-60 bu/acre.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has selected Ron Kostyshyn the MLA for Dauphin as the new Minister of Agriculture.

The Ag portfolio is something Kostyshyn is very familiar with after having served in the role as Agriculture Minister from 2012 to 2016.

Ron and his wife ran a family mixed farming operation for 40 years and has spent several years in the political arena from municipal to provincial politics.

He's held many roles on community boards including as Reeve for the Mossey River Municipality, and AMM Parkland Director.

Beef producers impacted by the drought that are looking to maintain or grow their herd can now apply for Farm Credit Canada's new " Heifer Replacement Program ".

Sophie Perreault, FCC’s chief operations officer announced the program on Tuesday.

The Heifer Replacement Program loan offers a maximum two-year period of interest only,  with a maximum life of seven years. .

The loans variable interest rates are capped at prime plus 1.5%, with FCC waiving the loan processing fees.

Farm Credit Canada spring wheat and durum forecast is included in the 2023 Grains, Oilseeds and Pulse Outlook.

Justin Shepherd a Senior Economist with FCC expects to see an increase in spring wheat.

With the harvest wrapped up in many areas, the country elevator system is seeing more deliveries headed to Port. 

Elizabeth Hucker, CPKC's assistant vice-president of sales and marketing for bulk says they started the month of October out strong.

"So in week 10, CPKC moved approximately 569,000 metric tons of grain and grain products to destinations in Thunder Bay, Vancouver, and throughout North America. This was our second largest screen shipping week of the 2023 - 2024 grain crop year."

Earlier this year, the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission (SaskCanola) and Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission (SaskFlax)  announced they were considering amalgamation.

The proposed merger would see SaskCanola assume the operations for SaskFlax which would include everything from research and advocacy to market development investments and communications.

SaskCanola has providing operational support for SaskFlax since early January when resolutions were passed at both AGM's calling on the two groups to look into amalgamation.

Protein Industries Canada has opened its first call for Expressions of Interest under their current Capacity Building Stream. 

This is the first call for capacity-building projects under the second round of funding from the Government of Canada’s Global Innovation Cluster program.

Working across eight priority areas, the projects will focus on the growth and success of the entire ecosystem and complement investments into innovative R&D.

Project consortiums are encouraged to submit an expression of interest for a project before the November 15th deadline.