Physiological Leaf Spot is showing up in Southern Alberta
Physiological Leaf Spot is suspected in a number of winter wheat fields in Southern Alberta.
Physiological leaf spot (PLS) appears as round or oval lesions that may be yellow or bleached white to gray in color. Lesions may also have a dark center with a narrow chlorotic (yellow) halos and tend to be more numerous toward the tip of the leaf blade. PLS lesions are often found in the upper canopy, and missing or rare on lower leaves.
Three Factors Favoring Physiological Leaf Spot (PLS):
Pulse sector fights anti-green trend
U.S. president Trump has attacked the sustainability movement, but a major pulse player urges investors to stick with the industry
A Canadian food industry executive is telling pulse companies to stick with their sustainability messaging despite attempts by powerful people to undermine the movement.
Murad Al-Katib, president of AGT Food and Ingredients, said U.S. president Donald Trump has been very vocal about his disdain for the green movement.
Wood Mountain couple win the 2025 Saskatchewan Stock Grower TESA
Mark and Karin Elford of Wood Mountain ranch near the Saskatchewan/Montana border, and have been named the Saskatchewan Stock Growers 2025 TESA winners.
Since 1996, TESA, or The Environmental Stewardship Award, has recognized producers who go above and beyond standard industry conservation practices and set positive examples for other cattle producers and the general public.
CN deploying Poseidon and Trident to help fight the wildfires
The ongoing wildfire situation stretches from northern Ontario right across the prairies, with the threat to homes and communities and thousands of people being evacuated.
The Assistant Vice-President of Grain for CN, David Przednowek, says they are monitoring the situation very closely as their rail lines run through the north.
CN reports they've had some delays moving grain in and out of the Port at Thunder Bay but are also doing what they can to help with the wildfires.
The lack of moisture is becoming more of a concern in Alberta
Plant 2025 is virtually complete in Alberta, other than a few acres in the Peace region.
Manglai a product co-ordinator with the Agriculture Financial Services Corporation put together the latest report, adding there were very few weather interruptions, just a few localized showers.
In terms of crop development, almost all crops are ahead of average. The soil conditions are trending drier, but there's hope that producers could see some significant impact with June rains.
Customer diversity seen as benefit to exporters
Sixty-six per cent of Canadian exporters rely solely on United States, but economists say that can be hard on the bottom line
For someone running an agricultural or agri-food business in Saskatoon, Kelowna or Halifax, it’s easier to sell products to customers in Canada than to someone in Vietnam.
It may be easier, but exporting will make the business more productive and profitable.
Red lentil supply depends on Canada, Australia
Australia hopes its crop will recover from last year’s drought and frost, while Canada’s production is expected to be down
The 2025-26 red lentil market hinges on what happens with Australia and Canada, say analysts.
If those two countries have average yields, supply and demand will be well balanced, Chuck Penner, an analyst with LeftField Commodity Research, recently told delegates attending the Global Pulse Confederation’s Pulses 25 conference in Singapore.
Good global green lentil production expected this year
Canada and the United States are both looking at sizeable crops, while conditions are also favourable in Russia and Kazakhstan
There is potential for a big increase in green lentil production in 2025-26 after several years of tight supplies, says an analyst.
Canada will lead the way with an estimated 842,000 tonnes of production, Chuck Penner, analyst with LeftField Commodity Research, told delegates attending the Global Pulse Confederation’s Pulses 2025 conference in Singapore.
New focus on developing Faba Bean varieties
The Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG) and J4 Agri-Science have announced a new partnership aimed at developing new and enhanced Faba Bean varieties. This initiative is expected to bring significant improvements to the crop's potential and provide farmers with more options for their rotations.
Canada losing farmland to development as rental costs squeeze farmers
Canada’s dwindling farmland base and rising rental costs threaten the country’s agricultural sustainability, researchers warn
Canada’s agricultural sector faces mounting pressure as the country continues to lose farmland to urban development, while some existing acres sit vacant.
That’s according to new research released by the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute.