India is extending the timeline for duty-free yellow peas

India is extending the timeline for duty-free imports of yellow peas.

Initially, India implemented a 50 per cent duty on yellow peas in November of 2017.

In December 2023, it announced a temporary duty-free import period ending in March 2024.

Last week, India announced that they would extend that duty-free period to the end of April.

Jeff English, the vice president of marketing and communications for Pulse Canada, says it's good to see the extension in place.

February 'Grain Marketing Insights Report' is out

The latest "Grain Marketing Insights Report"  with LeftField Commodity Research is available through Manitoba Crop Alliance.

The report takes a general overview of what's happening in the wheat, barley, corn, flax, and sunflower markets.

According to the report, non-durum wheat supplies are tight with December non-durum exports moving at a record pace for the 2023-2024 crop year at 1.84 million tonnes.
CWRS basis levels have been firm for old crop, while new crop levels have appreciated from very low levels.

Southwest farmers are thanked with an evening of food and fun

A record number of 270 farmers and staple members of southwests agricultural industry gathered in the Living Sky Casino’s Event Centre for the annual Farmer Appreciation event on Friday evening. 

Sponsored companies including Monette Seeds, S3 Group, Innovation Credit Union, Viterra and more provided the food, wine, desserts, and more.  

Sales were up at Alberta Open Farm Days in 2023

The number of visitors to Alberta Open Farm Days was down in 2023 from the year before.

But the CEO of the Alberta Association of Agriculture Societies Tim Carson says they're still excited about how things went.

He says while the number of visitors was down slightly, on-farm sales during the weekend increased from $224,000 in 2022 to almost $299,000 last year. 

Prairie companies named to SVG Ventures|THRIVE Academy

SVG Ventures|THRIVE, a global venture and innovation platform has announced the 15 companies selected for its fourth Academy program.

The THRIVE Academy is committed to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in the agriculture and food technology space. 

It offers a 12-week program designed to de-risk and validate ideas, equipping participants with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate the challenges of the industry. 

This year's participants come from across Canada, Bulgaria, Hungary, and the United States.

Funding available to help cover Agriculture employment costs

Federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lawrence MacAulay announced $13.5 million on Thursday to support a new application intake under the Youth Employment and Skills Program (YESP). 

The initiative will provide the agricultural sector with the help needed to support approximately 1,200 jobs for youth in the sector.

The Little Potato Company continues to grow

The Little Potato Company is a familiar name in many households selling products to supermarkets across Canada and the U.S.

The company has qualified for Alberta’s Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit program and is building a new $39.5-million project in Nisku.

The 240,000-square-foot facility will be able to process about 125 million pounds of potatoes, doubling the capacity from its former Edmonton location.

Improving soil quality was a key focus for the Sask Soil Conference

When it comes to getting the best quality crop ... it all comes down to production and management and that starts with a soil test.

That soil test provides the base for what you have as far as nutrients in the soil to work with and then you can build off that.

Improving soil quality in semi-arid conditions was one of the presentations during the SaskSoils conference last week.

Agronomist Troy LaForge farms at Cadillac, Saskatchewan, and talked about how he's worked to build up the organic soil on his farm

Canadian grain customers provide key information for future crop development

Canadian grain customers like the quality and consistency of our crops.

The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) provides customers with statements of assurance and letters of analysis.

Derek Bunkowsky,  the CGC's chief grain inspector says statements of assurance are based on cargo monitoring on all bulk vessels of grain that are leaving Canada.

Ottawa urged to step back on changes to the 2024 Advance Payments Program

The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) and the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association have sent a joint letter to the Federal Agriculture Minister regarding changes to the Federal Government's 2024 Advance Payments Program (APP). 

Starting in 2024, Ottawa is changing the interest-free portion of the Advance Payments Program back to $100,000 from the current $350,000 level.

The groups are calling on Ottawa to reconsider its decision and reinstate the $350,000 interest-free portion.