Farmers assessing crop condition
Recent rains have helped to improve topsoil moisture, crop development, and hay and pasture conditions across the Prairies, while some regions are still looking for some moisture.
In Manitoba, soil moisture levels are variable with the majority of the province showing optimal to wet conditions to the 30 cm depth.
Pulse and soybean specialist Dennis Lange says a major storm moved through the southwest that brought heavy rain, wind, and hail.
He notes farmers have been assessing their crops to determine if there's going to be any re-seeding.
If it's not drought, how about grasshoppers?
Grasshoppers are making a return to southern Alberta.
The Director of Agriculture Services for Vulcan County Kelly Malmberg says it reminds him of the 1980's.
"One thing we're really seeing, we had some real dry springs, grasshopper infestations are really bad in pockets around south of Vulcan and west and east we're starting to see some pretty heavy populations of grasshoppers and they are eating crops, so guys are spraying," he says.
Malmberg says he's even heard of them moving into people's yards and eating anything in sight.
There is some hope though.
If it's not drought, how about grasshoppers?
Grasshoppers are making a return to southern Alberta.
The Director of Agriculture Services for Vulcan County Kelly Malmberg says it reminds him of the 1980's.
"One thing we're really seeing, we had some real dry springs, grasshopper infestations are really bad in pockets around south of Vulcan and west and east we're starting to see some pretty heavy populations of grasshoppers and they are eating crops, so guys are spraying," he says.
Malmberg says he's even heard of them moving into people's yards and eating anything in sight.
There is some hope though.
New partnership will advance plant-based food opportunities
Protein Industries Canada (PIC) and Innovate UK, the UK’s national innovation agency have announced a new bilateral partnership.
The goal of the partnership is to develop greater connections between the food sectors in both countries by working together to support innovation in plant-based food and ingredients.
CEO of Protein Industries Canada Bill Greuel says they are excited to work with Innovate UK to create new partnerships and further advance innovation in plant-based food, feed, ingredients, and co-products.
Governments Invest $18 Million for Diagnostic Services For Animals
Prairie Diagnostic Services in Saskatchewan will receive $18 million in funding from the Federal and Provincial Governments.
The money under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership will support the work they do in disease diagnosis, surveillance, research, animal health, and welfare.
Federal agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau says understanding and containing disease outbreaks is key to safeguarding producers' animals and maintaining the international reputation of our agricultural industry.
CGC is pleased Canada is taking a stand in the U.S. dispute with Mexico
The Canada Grains Council (CGC) is pleased that the Federal Government is taking a strong stand on science-based regulation and rules-based trade.
Ottawa announced last week that it would be participating in the U.S. dispute settlement consultations with Mexico under the Canada-US-Mexico Agreement.
Cattle producers encouraged to have a risk management plan in place
The Canadian cattle industry has seen some strong prices in the first half of 2023.
Brenna Grant, the Executive Director of Canfax, says the tight supplies in North America have been the underlying factor that's really driven the market to where we're at today.
The tighter supplies in the cattle sector have also resulted in higher prices at the grocery store.
During a recession, beef tends to do fairly well as long as prices with competing proteins stay within historical ranges, if the other proteins go lower it could have an impact.
Senate urged to pass Bill C-234
Prairie farm groups voiced their concern this week over the delay in moving Bill C-234 through the Senate.
The group includes the Keystone Agriculture Producers (KAP) in Manitoba, the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS), and the Alberta Federation of Agriculture (AFA).
The Conservative Private Members Bill C-234 would see farmers exempt from paying the carbon tax on propane and natural gas used on farms for drying grain and heating barns.
Is more consolidation in the grain sector a real concern?
Consolidation is happening more and more in the ag sector from farm input companies to equipment dealers and grain elevators.
Agricultural commentator and farmer Kevin Hursh thinks the farm reaction to the merger will be fairly muted as there are many delivery choices for farmers.
Prairie farm groups concerned about Bunge Viterra merger
There's some concern about the loss of competition in the grain sector with the proposed merger of two mega rivals in the grain industry.
The announcement of a merger between U.S. based Bunge and Viterra would create a global agribusiness worth about U.S. $34 billion.
Bunge's purchase offer of U.S. $8.2 billion dollars will see Viterra shareholders receive 65.6 million shares of Bunge stock (valued at U.S. $6.2 billion) and U.S. $2 billion in cash.