Ag News

CN Rail says demand for grain movement right now is well below the maximum sustainable supply chain capacity.

CN's assistant vice president of grain David Przednowek says with it being slow they've decided to start parking some equipment.

The farm equipment market saw strong sales at the start of 2023 as inventory levels of new equipment rebounded and farmers recorded record-high cash receipts. 

Farm Credit Canada's senior economist Leigh Anderson says record-high crop receipts in 2022 put farmers in a strong financial position to absorb the rising interest rates and equipment prices.

Canadian farmers reported producing more corn for grain and soybeans, but less wheat, canola, barley, and oats in 2023. Lower production for most crops was driven largely by lower yields, especially in Western Canada where growing conditions were generally drier than in 2022.

Many long-term herd health implications associated with drought extend far past the challenging grazing season. 

The Beef Cattle Research Council recently hosted a webinar to help producers tackle the challenges of drought.

Dr. John Campbell from the University of Saskatchewan told producers that when cattle consume bleached and dried-out forage stands or when their diet is switched to an alternate feed source, several deficiencies and conditions can occur.

Producers are being encouraged to give their input into the discussions around sustainability and agriculture.

Farmers for Climate Solutions have put a call out for farmers and ranchers to go to their website to apply to be part of a select group of producers that will be invited to give their input on the changes we see happening, the impact on the agriculture sector and areas that need to be considered.

A group of randomly selected participants will be part of the Farmer and Rancher Forums across the Prairies in early 2024.

The report is an early indicator of areas that may be more vulnerable to the potential for above or below-normal runoff during the spring period. 

Water Security Agency Spokesperson Patrick Boyle says it's not a surprise that the hot, dry conditions throughout the summer and fall led to most areas of the province heading into the winter with below to well-below normal soil moisture.

Farm Credit Canada is partnering up with Ducks Unlimited Canada on a new Sustainability Incentive Program for customers in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. 

Kristine Tapley, the national lead for sustainable agriculture with DUC says under the new program producers that have land enrolled in the Marginal Areas Program could be eligible for a maximum payment of $2000 or $50 an acre depending on their lending with FCC.

El Nino is a weather phenomenon that is said to play the second-largest role in shaping the weather of the planet, second to only the earth’s orbit around the sun and the changing of the seasons. Here in Saskatchewan, El Nino years are marked by milder temperatures, and a lack of substantial snowfalls, for the most part.  

Terri Lang is a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada. She explained what the general forecast is during an El Nino event. 

Manitoba Auction Marts moved 9,530 head of cattle for the week ending November 24th. 

Year to date, that's 296,080 head of cattle sold, that's up 3.9 per cent from 2022 when 284, 923 head sold.

Feeder heifer prices last week jumped significantly for the heavier weight animals with the 901 plus heifers up $ 12.71 per cwt to $ 239.38 per cwt.

The 801 to 900 pound heifers were up $13.10 per cwt for an average price of $256.25 per cwt.

A map has just been released after extensive surveying in Saskatchewan revealing the places most ravaged by grasshoppers over the spring and summer.