Pasture Archives - Page 82 of 102

Weather, soil moisture and crops

Your definition of drought will depend on the amount of subsoil in your fields

By Les Henry June 23, 2016

My 2016 barley crop was seeded May 8 into excellent moisture at a depth of 1.0 to 1.5 inches — a bit deeper in some soft sloughs. Up to the date of seeding there had been essentially no spring rains. A May 4 burn off with 2,4-D + Glyphosate took care of the volunteer canola […] Read more

Earls president Mo Jessa (r) and Stan Carscallen of White Moose Ranch meet at Priddis, Alta. (Earls.ca)

Beef Cattle, Livestock

Earls locks in Canadian beef supplies

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News June 22, 2016

Vancouver-based dining chain Earls has enlisted a handful of Canadian ranchers and processors to supply beef to about half its stores while matching its criteria for animal care and “ethical farming practices.” The move comes about six weeks after Earls retreated from a plan to source its beef from Creekstone Farms, choosing the Kansas company […] Read more

Livestock, Markets, Reuters

U.S. livestock: Technical buying rallies CME live cattle

By GFM Network News June 22, 2016

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures on Tuesday reversed some of Monday’s losses, aided by short-covering and technical buying, traders said. Prior to Tuesday’s session, CME live cattle showed a Relative Strength Index (RSI) of 28. A reading below 30 suggests a market is technically oversold and subject to an upward […] Read more

Crops, News, Weather

Topsoil moisture conditions mostly good, warmth spurs excellent crop growth

Saskatchewan Crop Report for the week ending June 13

By Saskatchewan Agriculture June 16, 2016

Seeding in Saskatchewan is expected to be completed this week, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s weekly Crop Report. While there are few fields of oats and flax, as well as some greenfeed and silage, being seeded at this time, 99.5 per cent of the crop is in the ground. The five-year (2011-2015) average for this time […] Read more

Livestock, Markets, Reuters

U.S. livestock: Fund liquidation sinks CME live cattle

By GFM Network News June 10, 2016

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed lower on Friday, hit by fund selling and caution while awaiting market-ready, or cash, cattle prices by day’s end, said traders. June live cattle closed down 0.75 cent/lb. to 122.45 cents, after drifting below the 100-day moving average of 122.71 cents (all figures US$). […] Read more

Livestock, Machinery, Reuters

Canada’s PSP buys stake in tag maker Allflex

By Reuters, GFM Network News June 10, 2016

Reuters — PSP Investments, one of Canada’s biggest pension funds, said Friday it had acquired a significant minority stake in Allflex Group, the world’s biggest maker of electronic tags for animals, from private equity firm BC Partners. The purchase was overseen by PSP’s new team in London, led by Simon Marc, and is likely to […] Read more

Crops, News, Weather

Warm week provides excellent crop growth

Saskatchewan Crop Report for the week ending June 6

By Saskatchewan Agriculture June 9, 2016

Seeding has essentially wrapped up in the province with 98 per cent of the 2016 crop in the ground, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s weekly Crop Report. The five-year (2011-2015) average for this time of year is 89 per cent seeded. Many producers have completed seeding operations and are working on in-crop herbicide applications. Topsoil moisture […] Read more

Average sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies for the week centred on June 1. Anomalies based on weekly means for 1981-2010 base period. (CPC.ncep.noaa.gov)

Crops, Weather

La Nina effect in U.S. may not spill onto Prairies

By GFM Network News June 9, 2016

CNS Canada — As the El Nino weather event of 2015-16 gradually fades into memory, most weather forecasters say it’s slowly being replaced by its cousin, La Nina. The La Nina phenomenon usually happens when water temperatures along the equator in the Pacific Ocean fall by 3 to 5 C. According to Drew Lerner of […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Livestock

Madisons chain going Certified Humane for beef

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News June 4, 2016

A Quebec steakhouse chain aims to carve out a new space in the restaurant market by being Quebec’s first dining chain to source beef from the Certified Humane program. Madisons NY Grill and Bar, a brand of Montreal restaurant and fast-food firm MTY Group, announced Thursday it has signed a deal with Canadian meat supply […] Read more

Crops, Forages, Weather

Prairie forage crops perk up with precipitation

By GFM Network News June 4, 2016

CNS Canada — It’s been a slow start for forage crops growing across the Prairies, but the much-needed precipitation is better late than never. “The rain has been a huge help,” said Karin Lindquist, forage specialist with Alberta’s Ag-Info Centre in Stettler. “There are still some areas that could use a bit more, but so […] Read more

CFIA rejects beekeeper proposals on U.S. packaged bees

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures fall hard, hogs mixed

Alberta Crop Report: Scattered rains, crop conditions

GFM Network News