Reading Time: 3 minutes There’s a good chance western Canadian farmers and ranchers will see rain in April and May to get crops started and grass growing, says a U.S. based weather scientist.
General
Prairies expected to be cooler, wetter this year
A La Niña weather pattern is on its way and may even bring timely spring rains
Teasing out the social angle of sustainable ag research
Recently funded network to bring together social scientists, agriculture and community groups
Reading Time: 2 minutes The federal government pledged the cash March 19 to launch the Common Ground Canada Network. The initiative will be led by Dalhousie University’s Karen Foster, Canada research chair in sustainable rural futures for Atlantic Canada.
Louis Dreyfus withstands commodity price drop to post stable profits
While less chaotic than 2022, war and weather continued to disrupt supply last year
Reading Time: 2 minutes Louis Dreyfus Company's (LDC) profits last year held close to the bumper levels of 2022, with the agricultural commodity giant saying its global trading network helped it withstand falling prices.
Veterinary association calls on federal government to address workforce shortage
National testing centre is needed to onboard internationally-trained vets, CVMA says
Reading Time: < 1 minute An organization representing Canadian veterinarians is calling for the federal government to intervene as it faces what it calls a severe workforce shortage.
Polish farmers intensify protests against ‘executioner’ EU
Germany proposes income smoothing to reduce farmers' taxes in face of farmer anger
Reading Time: 3 minutes Polish farmers blocked roads with tractors and flares on Wednesday in escalating protests against EU environmental regulations and cheap food imports from neighbouring Ukraine which the bloc provisionally agreed to prolong.
China expands list of GM soybean, corn variety approvals
Reading Time: < 1 minute China has approved 27 genetically modified corn seed varieties and 3 GM soybean varieties, expanding its list of approvals as it aims to increase the development and planting of high-yielding crops.
Zimbabwe goes hungry as crops wither amid El Nino drought
Reading Time: 2 minutes Residents of the Zimbabwean village of Buhera stood in groups at a primary school waiting to be called by name to receive life-saving handouts of grain, peas and cooking oil.
Farmers, oil drillers in parched Alberta brace for water shortage
Drought could cause double-digit declines in Alberta's wheat yields, data suggests
Reading Time: 3 minutes Drought in Alberta is stretching into its fourth year and farmers and oil companies are planning for water restrictions that threaten production of wheat, beef and crude.
CN train stopped by demonstrators in Winnipeg, union says
Reading Time: 2 minutes A union representing striking workers in Halifax said it stopped a CN train in Winnipeg yesterday as part of escalations against that company.
Pesticides under fire in U.S.
Recent court decisions have threatened farmers' abilities to use some herbicides
Reading Time: 3 minutes Pesticides are increasingly under attack in the United States and that is keeping farm leaders awake at night.
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
