Weather & Production Tips

Canola west of Pathlow in northeastern Saskatchewan on July 27, 2015. (Dave Bedard photo)

Cooler temperatures, precipitation in store for Prairies

By GFM Network News August 14, 2015

CNS Canada — Alberta crops could be put at risk during the last week of September due to cooler weather, but for the most part, a U.S. meteorologist expects average to slightly above-average temperatures for the Prairies during harvest. Farmers will need to monitor temperatures during the last 10 days of September, as there will […] Read more

Crops, Reuters, Weather

El Nino now seen more likely to last into spring

By Reuters, GFM Network News August 13, 2015

New York | Reuters — A U.S. government weather forecaster on Thursday raised the likelihood that El Nino conditions would last into the Northern Hemisphere’s early spring to 85 per cent, boosting the probability that drought-stricken California could see increased rains. The Climate Prediction Center, a U.S. National Weather Service agency, last month forecast an […] Read more

Crops, Weather

Western Prairies see low yields as harvest ramps up

By GFM Network News August 13, 2015

CNS Canada –– This summer’s erratic weather has taken its toll on plant development in Alberta and parts of western Saskatchewan, according to crop-watchers in those areas. “We have heard that dry conditions have caused plants (peas) to slough off or have the tillers dry off and have lost those heads,” said Barry Yaremcio at […] Read more

Cereals, Corn, Crops, Markets, Reuters, Soybeans, Weather

USDA sees bumper corn, soy crops despite floods

By GFM Network News August 12, 2015

Washington | Reuters –– U.S. corn and soybean harvests were pegged above expectations this year as strong yields in areas west of the Mississippi River will make up for problems caused by excessive rains in eastern production states, the government said Wednesday. The U.S. Department of Agriculture forecast the 2015-16 soybean harvest at 3.916 billion […] Read more

Crops, Markets, Peas, Weather

Prairie pea yields appear lower in early harvest

By GFM Network News August 11, 2015

CNS Canada — Western Canada’s pea harvest has begun and yields appear to be down, according to a crop management specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture. “Once farmers cut into the peas they began finding yields maybe half of what they typically expected,” said Shannon Friesen. Excess dryness in the early summer seems to have taken its […] Read more

Biomass pellets burn in a boiler furnace chamber. Nova Scotia’s COMFIT program offered 17.5 cents/kWh for electricity generated from local-level biomass plants. (Matt Myers photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Livestock, Machinery, Weather

N.S. halts local-level biomass, wind power plan

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News August 7, 2015

Nova Scotia is ending its feed-in tariff program that pays local-level groups to generate power from biomass, wind and other renewable sources. Energy Minister Michel Samson said Thursday a provincial review of the community feed-in tariff (COMFIT) program shows it’s “at a point where the program could begin to have a negative impact on power […] Read more

Crops, Weather

Sask. harvest begins amidst lodged crops, flooded fields

Saskatchewan Crop Report for the week ending August 3

By Saskatchewan Agriculture August 7, 2015

Harvest has begun in some parts of the province, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s weekly Crop Report. Less than one per cent of the provincial crop has been combined, while one per cent is ready to straight-cut. Twenty-three per cent of the fall rye, 10 per cent of the winter wheat, five per cent of the […] Read more

Livestock, Machinery, Weather

Alta. cuts ranchers’ water pump rental fees

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News August 6, 2015

Ranchers and farmers renting the Alberta ag ministry’s pumps and pipes to move water for livestock watering and domestic use in dry areas may now get the equipment for half the going rate. The province announced Thursday it will cut the rental fees charged under its annual Water Pumping Program, through which producers, or groups […] Read more

This farm property near Tilston, Man. was ripped up after a tornado raged through the area on July 27.

News, Weather, Wheat & Chaff

Be ready for severe summer storms

Some violent weather may have already crossed your path, but storm season is far from over

By Canadian Agricultural Safety Association August 5, 2015

Everybody likes to talk about the weather. Nowhere is weather talked about more than in Canada. Everybody has had a conversation that starts out with the question: “Hot enough for you?” Farmers especially take weather seriously — after all fortunes are gained and lost due to the weather. Rain, hail, frost, wind, and snow all […] Read more

Canola, Cereals, Reuters, Spring Wheat, Weather

Sask. crops get soaked, but may take yield hit

By Rod Nickel, GFM Network News July 29, 2015

(Reuters) – Two days of rainstorms in Saskatchewan, Canada’s biggest wheat- and canola-growing province, may have done more harm to crops than good, even though farms were parched, a Saskatchewan government official said on Wednesday. Much of the province received rain on Monday and Tuesday, with the capital, Regina, collecting about 90 millimetres (3.5 inches), […] Read more

Daily Network News

Iran says Strait of Hormuz open as Trump sees deal ‘soon’ to end war

Agriculture groups welcome seed, fertilizer approval bill

AAFC projects tighter canola stocks for 2026-27

Weather