Favourable weather conditions have allowed producers to make significant seeding progress throughout Alberta, according to a provincial crop specialist. “Depending on the region, seeding operations range anywhere from 30 per cent complete to as much as 85 per cent done,” said Neil Whatley of Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development’s Ag-Info Centre at Stettler. The planting […] Read more
Good seeding progress seen in Alta.
Eastern Prairies racing to seed acres
Producers in the eastern regions of Canada’s Prairies are hoping to get seed in the ground where possible before more precipitation events hit the region. Drier weather in select areas of eastern Saskatchewan and southern Manitoba have allowed producers to begin seeding operations, but those operations may be temporary, said Drew Lerner, a meteorologist with […] Read more
Weather expert sees limited Prairie seeding opportunities
The window of opportunity for seeding operations in Western Canada is likely to be limited, particularly in the eastern regions of Saskatchewan and much of Manitoba, according to weather outlooks looking at the next 30 days. “There is definitely going to be a bias to wet and cooler weather conditions over the next couple of […] Read more
Hog inventory up from year-earlier level
Canada’s hog inventories as of April 1 totalled 11.81 million head — up from 11.65 million during the same time a year ago, but down slightly from 11.895 million during the quarter ending Jan. 1. According to new Statistics Canada data, hog inventories were up in all major hog-producing provinces except Quebec and Alberta, where […] Read more
Prairie seeding on hold until mid-, late May
Producers in Western Canada continue to wait for favourable weather conditions to dry out fields enough to begin seeding operations, and while a few producers may be able to start some minor field preparations in the next week, the bulk of seeding is unlikely to begin until the middle or end of May. “Producers are […] Read more
Pork exports to India tied to FTA breakthrough
Canadian producers hope free trade negotiations with India will result in that country allowing imports of Canadian pork products, according to an official with one of the agencies trying to open those doors. “There is definitely demand for Canadian pork in India,” according to Jacques Pomerleau, president of Canada Pork International. Currently, no Canadian pork […] Read more
CWB winter rail program nears finish line
The Canadian Wheat Board’s winter rail program is on target to meet export expectations made in the fall, according to a CWB official. The CWB’s winter rail program transports grain from Western Canada and already-stored supplies at Thunder Bay, Ont. to eastern export facilities while the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway are closed for […] Read more
Late start seen for seeding on Prairies
Producers in Western Canada who hope to get an early start to seeding will be disappointed, given that the weather is not expected to be very co-operative over the next couple of months. “There is definitely going to be a bias to wet and cooler weather conditions over the next couple of weeks across the […] Read more
Canola area in question, crushers and exporters wait
The debate is on regarding how many acres in Canada will go to canola in 2011, with domestic crushers and exporters alike keeping a close eye on the situation. The area expected to be planted to canola in Canada this spring is projected to surpass record levels, but there may be some serious reconsideration of […] Read more
Cattle Inventories In Canada Decline: StatsCan
Canada’s estimated total cattle and calf inventory as of January 1, 2011, continued to decline, dropping 3.4 per cent from the level seen at the same time a year ago, according to figures released by Statistics Canada on Feb. 17, 2011. As of January 1, 2011, Canadian producers had an estimated 12.460 million head of […] Read more