Weather & Production Tips

Panama Canal sets depth limit on ships due to drought

By Reuters, GFM Network News March 21, 2016

Panama City | Reuters — The Panama Canal will next month impose new draft restrictions on ships due to falling water levels at nearby lakes that form part of the waterway, the authority that administers the canal said in a statement Monday. Ships seeking to cross the waterway must comply with a maximum depth limit […] Read more

Barley, Crops, Weather

Alberta to launch malt barley insurance

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News March 21, 2016

Alberta is set to launch Canada’s first crop insurance product for malt barley this year. The province’s Agriculture Financial Services Corp. (AFSC) last week said it will now provide insurance coverage for a malting end-use for growers with malt barley contracts. The coverage is subject to a contract from a licensed buyer, with a minimum […] Read more

The Mississippi River. (Mark D. Tomer photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Crops, Weather

Nitrates to linger for decades in N-heavy waterways, study finds

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News March 18, 2016

Lakes, rivers, streams and well water high in nitrates will stay that way for another 35 years or more, even if farmers in those watersheds were to stop applying nitrogen (N) fertilizer on their fields today, a new study shows. The study of the Mississippi River basin, published Tuesday by Canadian and U.S. researchers, shows […] Read more

Corn, Crops, Weather

Corn acres seen rising in Manitoba

By GFM Network News March 17, 2016

CNS Canada — Corn prices in Manitoba may not be setting any records these days but they’re still likely high enough to spur an increase in the amount of corn planted this year, according to an industry watcher. “I would not all be surprised to see a 20 per cent increase. The value of corn […] Read more

Pacific Ocean sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies for the week centred March 2. (CPC.ncep.noaa.gov)

Crops, Reuters, Weather

La Nina seen maybe succeeding El Nino

By Reuters, GFM Network News March 11, 2016

Reuters — A U.S. government weather forecaster said Thursday it sees a near 50 per cent chance La Nina could develop by the Northern Hemisphere fall on the heels of the El Nino conditions likely to dissipate in the coming months. The Climate Prediction Center (CPC), an agency of the U.S. National Weather Service, in […] Read more

(Stephen Ausmus photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Crops, Markets, Reuters, Weather

U.S. grains: Weather fears, short-covering lift prices

By GFM Network News March 8, 2016

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. grain futures edged higher Tuesday on concerns that unfavourable crop weather could threaten domestic production, as markets temporarily shook off the weight of massive global inventories. Technical buying and short covering ahead of a monthly U.S. Department of Agriculture report on Wednesday helped fuel the gains, traders said. Wheat traders […] Read more

Crops, Weather

Mild winter, poor snow cover watched in Alberta, Saskatchewan

By GFM Network News March 2, 2016

CNS Canada –– A milder than normal winter, with a lack of significant snow cover across much of Alberta and Saskatchewan, may be raising concerns in parts of the Prairies — but there is still plenty of time before spring seeding will begin. “There’s not much moisture there,” said Harry Brook, crop specialist with Alberta’s […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Crops, Reuters, Weather

Monarch population rebounds, still well off highs

By GFM Network News February 26, 2016

Austin, Tex. | Reuters — North America’s monarch butterflies are on a rebound and the number of the plucky orange and black creatures, which gather in Mexico before flying north to Canada, could soon stand at around 150 million, a new survey showed on Feb. 26. The survey from a scientist at Natural Resources Defense […] Read more

Crops, Machinery, Weather

Spring road bans to slow grain movement across Prairies

By GFM Network News February 25, 2016

CNS Canada –– Spring road bans are starting to be put into place across Western Canada as temperatures warm up in the Prairie provinces. The annual restrictions set axle weight limits for vehicles moving on certain roads in an effort to reduce the damage heavier loads can cause during the spring thaw period. Grain and […] Read more

Crops, Machinery, Weather

Saskatchewan to halt winter weights early in southwest

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News February 19, 2016

Weight allowances that let heavier grain trucks roll on more southwestern Saskatchewan highways over the winter will end a week early, thanks to recent mild weather. The province’s highways ministry announced Friday it will remove the winter weight allowances on secondary-weight highways in the southwest region effective Monday (Feb. 22). “While frozen roads provide a […] Read more

Daily Network News

Canadian drought conditions improve in March

PMRA renamed as Pesticides Regulatory Directorate

U.S. deputy farm secretary to meet with Mosaic amid high fertilizer prices

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