Winnipeg, Sept. 7, 2023. (Dave Bedard photo)

Prairie Forecast: Summer trying to hang on

Issued Sept. 6, covering Sept. 6 to 13

The weather models seem to be in good agreement for this forecast period, with no strong storm systems expected to impact the Prairies, making for a fairly high-confidence forecast. This forecast period will start off with a generally west to southwesterly flow across the Prairies. A broad but weak area of low pressure is expected […] Read more

Global sea surface temperature anomalies in degrees Celsius for the week centred on Aug. 30, 2023. (CPC.ncep.noaa.gov)

Rest of September to be warmer than normal for Prairies

Southern Prairies to remain drier than normal

MarketsFarm — As summer turns to autumn on the Canadian Prairies, the weather outlook for the rest of September is for temperatures to be warmer than normal, according to Scott Kehler, chief scientist for Weatherlogics. One of the factors in those forthcoming temperatures is the El Niño that has been developing over the last several […] Read more


(Thinkstock photo)

Prairie cash wheat: Bids, futures take tumbles

Canadian dollar sees slight gain on week

MarketsFarm — Western Canadian wheat bids were lower throughout during the week ended Thursday, with Canada Western Red Spring wheat seeing the largest declines. Statistics Canada (StatCan) released its first model-based production estimates for 2023-24 on Tuesday. Based on data compiled up to July 31, StatCan estimated total Canadian wheat production at 29.472 million tonnes, […] Read more



ICE November 2023 canola with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: Harvest pressure, farmer selling to guide canola

New StatCan figures 'right around expectations'

MarketsFarm — Any fanfare from the long-awaited production estimates from Statistics Canada released on Tuesday was gone by the next day. ICE canola futures initially jumped by double digits that morning, but throughout that session the gains faded. By the end of Wednesday’s session, canola was down. “The StatCan report came in right around expectations. […] Read more

Durum plants on Aug. 28, 2023 near Acadia Valley, Alta., about 160 km north of Medicine Hat, stand shorter with fewer kernels than normal due to dry conditions. (Photo courtesy Darold Niwa/Handout via Reuters)

Prairie Forecast: Mostly sunny and warm

Issued Aug. 30, covering Aug. 30 to Sept. 6

It’s a straightforward forecast for this period as the general weather pattern looks to be pretty quiet. It starts with a large area of high pressure centred over the Great Lakes with a weak area of low pressure over Alberta. The Great Lakes high will put sunny skies and warm temperatures over much of Manitoba […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Barley, wheat prices now steady

U.S. corn imports keep lid on barley values

MarketsFarm — Prices for feed barley and wheat didn’t change much for the most part during the week ended Thursday, according to Erin Harakal of Agfinity at Stony Plain, Alta. “This week it has been pretty steady compared to the end of last week,” Harakal said, noting barley prices dropped about $20 per tonne. “Just […] Read more

Prairie forecast: unsettled to start then clearing and warmer

Prairie forecast: unsettled to start then clearing and warmer

Issued Aug. 23, covering Aug. 23 to 30

Once again, the weather models are in good agreement so confidence in this forecast is fairly high. The only possible issue is that the different weather systems are rather weak which means timing of the systems can change easily. This forecast period starts off with two weak areas of low pressure, one over southern Manitoba, […] Read more


“There’s even a question of would harvest equipment be available for 2023. There will be some equipment available, but will it be what you want and [what] fits your needs?” – Bill Campbell, Keystone Agricultural Producers.  Photo: iStock/Getty Images

Manitoba crop report: dry week helps advance harvest

Cattle producers move herds to hay fields to graze regrowth

MarketsFarm – Dry conditions across crop-growing areas in Manitoba helped the province’s annual harvest get off to a good start during the week ended Aug. 20. Much of the eastern, southern and central regions received two millimetres of precipitation at most during the week with several locations receiving no rainfall at all. The northwest region […] Read more

Close-up from the federal government’s initial assessment map for the livestock tax deferral provision for the 2023 tax year as of Aug. 10. (AAFC map)

Livestock tax deferral list begins in West for 2023

AgriRecovery work 'progressing,' feds say

The level of drought in parts of Western Canada so far this year has given the federal government a head start in drafting its list of jurisdictions where producers can get in on the livestock tax deferral provision. Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay on Monday announced an initial list of designated regions for the provision for […] Read more