Ag News

The cash price for hogs has been lower than expected in 2023.

Paul Marchand is the Senior Risk Management Analyst with H@ms Marketing Service.

He says there are a couple of key factors pressuring cash prices significantly. 

Exports are higher than they were a year ago,  (but not as high as they were in 2021) and we're also dealing with much higher supplies than what the USDA anticipated in their quarterly Hogs and Pig Report in the summer.

The Manitoba Egg Farmers Learning and Research Centre at the University of Manitoba's Glenlea Research Station.

The new 22 thousand square foot facility is the first interpretive egg/layer research, education, and training facility in Canada.

Agriculture Minister Derek Johnson says the Province partnered with the Government of Canada through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership to provide $1.5 million in funding to support ongoing research at UM through the Glenlea Research Station.

The Alberta government has kicked in an additional $150,000 for the John Ware Youth Empowerment Program.

The program started as a pilot project in 2021 to honour the legacy of John Ware by assisting with developing life and career skills for rural youth.

While many people living in the Foothills are aware of John Ware's legacy many did not know that he eventually settled in the Brooks area of southern Alberta.

The program is based in Brooks with Global Village Centre and with the additional funding the program looks to expand across other rural communities.

The search is on for the next president and CEO of the Canola Council of Canada.

Jim Everson announced his plans to leave the organization earlier this month, agreeing to stay in the role until a replacement is found.

Board chair Jennifer Marchand says Jim played a key role in reforming the Canola Council's financial governance, opening new market pathways and
leading the value chain through challenging market access issues.

Alberta's Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit program allows for a 12% non-refundable tax credit against eligible capital expenditures for corporations investing $10 million or more to build or expand agri-processing facilities in the province.

More information coming out about Mechan International's purchase of the Ag West outlets in Manitoba.

The deal is officially set to close on May 1st.

Tthe Dutch company says it will retain the current leadership team and employees and will continue to operate under the AgWest brand in their current locations.

AgWest has three locations in Elie, Brandon, and Neepawa with satellite locations providing parts and service in Swan River, Morden, and Russell.

The Wheat Growers Association says it was stunned to learn that striking federal workers had intentionally targeted the Cascadia Terminal in Vancouver - a major port for grain exports. 

However, before that grain can be exported, it needs to be inspected - that inspection is normally done by Canadian Grain Commission inspectors that are part of the PSAC Union.

Wheat Growers president, Gunter  Jochu m says it's time for the federal government to intervene.

A reminder for producers and anyone doing some spring cleaning to take precautions against Hantavirus.

Hantavirus is caused by breathing in contaminated airborne particles from the droppings of infected deer mice. 

It can cause a rare, but potentially fatal lung disease,  exposure most often occurs when cleaning up old grain bins, sheds, barns, garages, cabins, or vehicles after the winter.

When cleaning make sure to ventilate buildings, and use wet mopping methods instead of sweeping,  vacuuming, or using an air hose.

G3 is almost ready to “Play Melfort.”

The grain company’s newest elevator in Saskatchewan, G3 Melfort, is in the final stages of construction and will open later this spring.

Located southwest of Melfort in the Rural Municipality of Flett’s Springs, G3 Melfort will give area farmers more options for marketing and delivering their grain.

The high-efficiency facility is part of G3’s network across the Prairies, built to keep grain moving to market. A Super-B truck can unload its grain in a matter of minutes, saving farmers time making deliveries.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada released the Outlook for Principal Field Crops last Friday.

Below you'll find some of the highlights from that report.

Wheat and Durum projections for 2023-24:

Total wheat supplies for 2023-24 are forecast at 32.8 million tonnes with an expected increase in seeded areas.

Meantime, the total durum wheat supply is projected to be just shy of six million tonnes,  despite a drop in seeded areas but thanks to stronger yield expectations.