General & Production Tips

Vehicles leave Yellowknife on Aug. 16, 2023 on the only highway in or out of the city after a state of emergency was declared due to the proximity of wildfire. (Photo: Reuters/Pat Kane)

Prairie Forecast: Upper ridge to bring the heat

Issued Aug. 16, covering Aug. 16-23

By Daniel Bezte, GFM Network News August 16, 2023

After going through a couple of weeks of tough forecasting, with little agreement among the weather models, this forecast period is looking a little more stable with the two main weather models for our region in basic agreement. We start off this forecast with a low over Manitoba that is quickly moving east. To the […] Read more

(Mahindra Tractors video screengrab via Facebook)

General, Machinery, Reuters

India’s Mahindra aims to double tractor exports with new platform

Oja line to be introduced in North America

By Reuters, GFM Network News August 15, 2023

Mumbai | Reuters — India’s largest tractor maker, Mahindra and Mahindra, launched a new platform to manufacture lightweight tractors on Tuesday, which would enable the company to double its exports within three years, a senior company official told Reuters. The new platform, named Oja, was developed in collaboration with India’s Mahindra Research Valley and Japan’s […] Read more

Smoke rises from a wildfire near Wildwood, Alta., about 100 km west of Edmonton, on May 5, 2023. (Photo: Alberta Wildfire/Handout via Reuters)

General, Markets, Weather

Alberta farmers granted late AgriStability entry

Enrolment deadline now Sept. 29

By GFM Network News August 15, 2023

Any Alberta producers who were considering AgriStability — but only in hindsight — for the income stabilization plan’s 2023 program year now have until Sept. 29 to apply. Ottawa and the province announced Aug. 4 that they’ve reopened the jointly-funded program, as wildfires and/or “extremely dry” growing conditions have dragged on many Alberta producers’ work […] Read more

General, Weather

Prairie Forecast Update: Low to chug through mid-week

Issued Aug. 13, covering Aug. 13-16

By Daniel Bezte, GFM Network News August 14, 2023

The weather models seem to have come to an agreement on the area of low pressure forecasted to come in off the Pacific around mid-week. It looks like the energy from this system will quickly spin up an area of low pressure over north-central Alberta on Tuesday. The low will then quickly deepen and track […] Read more

A smoke column rises from a wildfire on May 4, 2023 near Lodgepole, Alta., about 30 km southwest of Drayton Valley. (Photo: Alberta Wildfire handout via Reuters)

General, Reuters, Weather

Canada’s record-setting wildfires could persist for rest of ‘marathon’ summer

Country's fires account for over a quarter of world's carbon for 2023

By GFM Network News August 12, 2023

Ottawa | Reuters — Record-setting wildfires in Canada could potentially continue burning at an abnormally high rate for several more weeks, though the spread of blazes is likely to start diminishing in September, according to federal projections released on Friday. Forest fires have engulfed parts of nearly all 13 Canadian provinces and territories this year, […] Read more

File photo of sunset over port facilities at Odesa. (Mixarde/iStock/Getty Images)

General, Markets, Reuters

Ukraine announces ‘humanitarian corridor’ for other stuck ships

Moscow not yet commenting on plan

By GFM Network News August 11, 2023

Kyiv | Reuters — Ukraine announced a “humanitarian corridor” in the Black Sea on Thursday to release cargo ships trapped in its ports since the outbreak of war, a new test of Russia’s de facto blockade since Moscow abandoned a deal last month to let Kyiv export grain. At least initially, the corridor would apply […] Read more

Press package photo of a 2016 Ram 1500 Rebel Crew Cab 4×4 pickup truck. (Stellantis North America)

General, Machinery, Reuters

U.S. agency to probe Ram pickups over power steering issues

Includes Ram 1500 trucks from 2013-16 model years

By GFM Network News August 10, 2023

Washington | Reuters — U.S. auto safety regulators said on Tuesday they were investigating whether 1.1 million older Ram 1500 pickup trucks should be recalled for power steering loss issues. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has received 380 reports alleging intermittent or complete loss of power steering assistance in 2013-2016 model year Ram […] Read more

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Drought Monitor map at July 31, 2023. (AAFC)

General, Weather

Prairie Forecast: Cooler and unsettled

Issued Aug. 9, covering Aug. 9 to 16

By Daniel Bezte, GFM Network News August 9, 2023

First off, I must apologize for not producing an update to the last forecast; I had the opportunity to do some backwoods camping, which meant I was off the grid for about five days. I’m back now, and from the weather model runs I’ve been able to check out, this forecast period is going to […] Read more

General, Hogs, Livestock

Anti-ASF funds designated for Manitoba Pork

Three initiatives will be funded through the federal African swine fever preparedness program

By Glacier FarmMedia, GFM Network News August 8, 2023

The Manitoba Pork Council’s efforts against African swine fever now have almost $1 million in extra financial padding. On Aug. 3, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announced $944,340 in funding for Manitoba’s hog farm group. Funds were provided through AAFC’s African Swine Fever Industry Preparedness Program and were slotted for three initiatives: Squeal on Pigs, increased […] Read more

People visit crop plots at Discovery Farm Woodstock during Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show. Photo: Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show

General

Discovery Farm Woodstock joins Pan-Canadian Smart Farm Network

The research site joins its Saskatchewan counterpart on the initiative’s roster

By Glacier FarmMedia, GFM Network News August 8, 2023

Glacier FarmMedia’s eastern Discovery Farm has joined the locations that share data and research through Old’s College’s Pan-Canadian Smart Farm Network. The 330-acre Ontario site is the host of various demonstration research projects and Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show. It was established as the permanent home for the show in 2020. “The objective is to provide […] Read more

GFM Network News

Trump mulls ending some trade ties with China, including in relation to cooking oil

Pulse Weekly: Yields coming into focus

U.S. livestock: Cattle at fresh highs, hogs weaken