Fababeans. (TamayoProduce.com)

Pulse weekly outlook: Most Canadian pulse acres to decline

Corrected, May 1 — MarketsFarm — Canadian farmers have been projected to plant fewer acres of pulses, according to Statistics Canada. “Keeping in mind this is the seeding intentions report based on a survey of growers from the beginning of March. It’s as current as the day it was collected,” said Carl Potts, executive director […] Read more



CBOT July 2019 wheat with Bollinger (20,2) bands, a gauge of market volatility. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soy, wheat hit new lows as supplies outweigh rainy weather

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures fell for a third straight session on Tuesday and struck fresh contract lows in most months as burdensome global stocks and sluggish U.S. exports dragged prices lower, triggering technical selling. Wheat futures, too, posted contract lows as better-than-expected U.S. winter crop conditions added to pressure from largely beneficial […] Read more



Devin Dreeshen is sworn in on April 30, 2019 as Alberta’s agriculture minister; Premier Jason Kenney looks on. (Video screengrab from Government of Alberta via YouTube)

Alberta UCP’s trade critic named ag minister

Alberta’s new premier has tapped a not-quite-rookie MLA with experience in farming, farm policy and U.S. politics as his new minister of agriculture and forestry. Jason Kenney, sworn in Tuesday as premier, named Devin Dreeshen, the MLA for Innisfail-Sylvan Lake since last July, to handle the ag and forestry file. Dreeshen came to the UCP’s […] Read more

Round bales can be stored under tarps to keep out moisture and reduce rot.

Managing forage in a dry year

Planning for drought needs to occur before drought arrives

Drought is normal in Western Canada and it is not going to go away. We just don’t know when the next drought will be, or how long it will last. “Drought affects two basic parts of the rancher’s business,” says Dr. Art Bailey, range science professor emeritus at the University of Alberta. “On the demand […] Read more


(Aodaodaod/iStock/Getty Images)

Canadian farm exports hit new Chinese obstacles amid diplomatic dispute

Winnipeg/Beijing | Reuters — An expanding list of Canadian farm exports is hitting obstacles at Chinese ports, leaving sellers of soybeans, peas and pork scrambling amid a bitter diplomatic dispute. China has already blocked Canadian canola from Richardson International and Viterra, two of Canada’s biggest farm exporters, saying that shipments had pests. Other China-bound canola […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Trump administration eyes more aid to farmers if necessary

Washington | Reuters — The Trump administration is ready to provide more federal aid to farmers if required, a White House adviser said on Monday, after rolling out up to US$12 billion since last year to offset agricultural losses from the trade dispute with China. “We have allocated $12 billion, some such, to farm assistance. […] Read more



CBOT July 2019 corn with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn firms as rains stall planting

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures firmed on Monday, hitting the highest point in a week as wet weather across much of the U.S. Midwest and forecasts for continued rains this week threatened to prolong spring planting delays. Soybeans were lower on sluggish U.S. exports, abundant global supplies and worries that delayed corn seeding […] Read more