A Manitoba provincial task force has been set up to seek ways in which farm risk management programs could be “more comprehensive and sustainable” in handling “climate-related challenges” such as floods. “Manitoba’s farmers have told us existing agricultural programs can’t adequately address these climate-related challenges, especially as they become more common,” Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn […] Read more
Manitoba seeks more climate-responsive risk management
Idaho confirms avian flu cases as Washington imposes new quarantine
Salmon, Idaho | Reuters –– Idaho officials said avian flu was confirmed in backyard chickens in the southwest of the state on Wednesday as Washington state quarantined poultry and eggs in areas where the virus was detected in chickens, geese and ducks. The highly pathogenic H5N2 strain of avian flu was first found in Pacific […] Read more
Seasonal pressures to weigh on CBOT soybeans, corn
CNS Canada — Soybean futures at the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) moved lower during the week ended Wednesday and could be due for more losses, given the seasonal trends and looming South American crops. “As long as South America has no real weather problems… it will be hanging over the soybean market,” said Scott […] Read more
ICE weekly outlook: Canola spikes as loonie falls
CNS Canada — ICE Futures Canada canola contracts finished higher for the week ended Wednesday, tracking the U.S. soy complex for much of the period but ultimately shooting higher due to the Canadian dollar’s sudden free-fall. The weaker currency helped improve domestic crush margins and also made canola more attractive to exporters pricing in U.S. […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn drops from one-week high
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures slipped from a one-week high on Wednesday on ample global supplies, traders said. Soybean futures edged higher, with bargain buyers picking prices up from their lowest since October even as concerns about dry weather culling crop production in South America eased. “Despite recent talk of drier-than-normal weather across […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle bounce with beef prices
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle closed higher on Wednesday, lifted by short-covering stirred by the morning’s wholesale beef price rebound, traders said. February live cattle closed up 0.65 cent per pound, to 153.7 cents, and April 0.8 cents higher at 151.875 cents (all figures US$). Wednesday morning’s choice wholesale beef climbed […] Read more
Manitoba to boost insurance coverage on pedigreed soybeans
Increased coverage for pedigreed soybeans is among the changes planned for Manitoba’s provincial crop insurance program for the 2015 growing season. Soybeans are expected to be the largest pedigreed seed crop in Manitoba this year, the province said in a release, and the increased coverage is expected to reflect the “additional cost” of producing the […] Read more
Grasshopper risk light in most of Western Canada
CNS Canada — Most of Western Canada is expected to see low populations of grasshoppers in 2015, although there are a few areas of concern, according to forecasts from the three provinces. Most of Manitoba has a low risk of seeing high grasshopper populations this year, according to a forecast from Manitoba Agriculture, Food and […] Read more
New outbreak of avian flu found in Washington state
Seattle | Reuters — A third outbreak of avian flu has been detected in Washington state, prompting agriculture officials on Tuesday to warn bird owners to keep their flocks away from migratory birds that have spread viruses from Oregon to British Columbia. State and federal agriculture officials culled about 120 backyard chickens, geese and ducks […] Read more
Syria air raid on cattle market kills at least 27, monitor says
Amman | Reuters –– At least 27 people were killed and dozens wounded on Tuesday by a Syrian air raid on a cattle market in territory controlled by the hard-line Islamic State, a monitoring group said. The raid hit the main livestock market in Khansaa, a village south of the Kurdish-held city of Qamishli in […] Read more