Weather & Production Tips

India to launch new crop insurance scheme

By GFM Network News December 23, 2015

New Delhi | Reuters — India will launch a new farm crop insurance scheme early next year and use drones and other technologies to assess crop damage, the agriculture minister said Wednesday, in what could be Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first major move to address rural hardship. The impact of unseasonal rains and two straight […] Read more

Livestock, Reuters, Weather

Wild bees seen dwindling in main U.S. crop regions

By Will Dunham, GFM Network News December 21, 2015

Washington | Reuters — Wild bees, crucial pollinators for many crops, are on the decline in some of the main agricultural regions of the U.S., according to scientists who produced the first national map of bee populations and identified numerous trouble spots. The researchers on Monday cited 139 counties as especially worrisome, with wild bee […] Read more

Crops, Machinery, Markets, Weather

Man. First Nations seek to buy Churchill port, rail line

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News December 18, 2015

Manitoba’s northern First Nations have responded to the “for sale” notice on the port and rail line that allow Prairie farmers and handlers to ship grain exports through Hudson Bay. The Canadian arm of U.S. shortline firm OmniTrax confirmed Friday it has a letter of intent in hand from a group of First Nations in […] Read more

Crops, Markets, Reuters, Weather

Russia aiming for steady grain crop in 2016

By Reuters, GFM Network News December 15, 2015

Moscow | Reuters –– Russia, one of the world’s largest wheat exporters, is aiming for an unchanged grain harvest in 2016 compared with the current year, the agriculture ministry said Tuesday. If the weather remains favourable during the winter and spring, Russia, a major wheat supplier to Turkey, Egypt and Iran, will harvest a large […] Read more

Crops, Forages, Hay, Markets, Weather

Hay producers see increased competition, lower prices

By GFM Network News December 7, 2015

CNS Canada — Canada’s export hay prices have come down from summer highs and now sit at less than half their previous levels, but despite competition from other growing regions, a weak loonie is helping Canadian producers. South Africa, Eastern Europe and Argentina have increased their alfalfa production, said Edward J. Shaw, director of market […] Read more

Crops, Machinery, Weather

Manitoba pledges more law on nutrient loading

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News November 21, 2015

More legislation to cut nutrient loading into Lake Winnipeg and other water bodies is among the shorter-term commitments in the Manitoba government’s latest throne speech. In the speech, which Lt.-Gov. Janice Filmon delivered Monday, Premier Greg Selinger pledges to “work with all partners to reduce nutrient loading” in Lake Winnipeg and work to prevent further spread of […] Read more

Crops, Markets, Reuters, Weather

U.S. grains: Wheat, corn, soybeans fall on good crop weather

By GFM Network News November 20, 2015

Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures fell on Friday, pressured by improving crop conditions in the U.S. Plains and Midwest while corn and soybeans dropped on beneficial crop weather in South America, traders said. The burgeoning harvest prospects threatened to add to the already ample global stockpiles of all three commodities. […] Read more

(Manitoba Co-operator file photo by Laura Rance)

Crops, Weather

Manitoba winter fertilizing ban back on

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News November 19, 2015

Snow’s arrival throughout Manitoba means no more extensions for the province’s farmers to apply winter fertilizer or manure. The province said Thursday its second extension, which was to run until the end of the day, has been rescinded, and the winter nutrient application ban is in place effective immediately, given “recent snowfall accumulations.” The winter […] Read more

Average Pacific Ocean sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies, in degrees Celsius, for the week centred on Nov. 4. (CPC.ncep.noaa.gov)

Beef Cattle, Crops, Reuters, Weather

El Nino strengthening, to be among biggest on record: WMO

By GFM Network News November 16, 2015

Geneva | Reuters — The El Nino weather pattern, a phenomenon associated with extreme droughts, storms and floods, is expected to strengthen before the end of the year and become one of the strongest on record, the United Nations’ weather agency said Monday. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said this El Nino was already “strong […] Read more

Crops, Machinery, Weather

Warm Prairie soils delay fertilizing ban, winter weights

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News November 13, 2015

Manitoba’s winter ban on nutrient application has been postponed, again, while Saskatchewan has postponed its move to winter weights on its highways, due to warmer-than-average soil temperatures. Manitoba’s water stewardship department announced Friday it will further extend its nutrient application window until midnight, Nov. 19. Variances to Manitoba’s winter fertilizing ban — which typically runs […] 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

Weather