Canadian Drought Monitor map as of June 30, 2023. (AAFC)

Much of Canada abnormally dry or in moderate drought

Southern Ontario among exceptions

Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — In a stretch from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans, a wide swath of Canada was contending with dryness, according to the latest report from the Canadian Drought Monitor. As of June 30, about 60 per cent of the country was abnormally dry to being in a moderate drought, with 76 per cent […] Read more

File photo of a view near the Canadian end of the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Windsor and Detroit and is considered one of North America’s busiest trade routes. (Steven_Kriemadis/iStock/Getty Images)

NAFTA meeting to skirt major disputes, U.S. trade rep says

Dairy, corn, energy issues to be discussed via separate channels

Reading Time: 2 minutes Washington | Reuters — U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai’s meetings with North American trade partners Canada and Mexico this week will not delve deeply into major disputes over Mexico’s biotech corn and energy policies nor Canadian dairy access, a senior USTR official said on Wednesday. The annual meeting of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) Free Trade […] Read more


Forecast probability of temperatures above, below and/or near normal for the period from July through September 2023, based on three equiprobable categories from 1991-2020 climatology. (Weather.gc.ca)

Dry, hot Canadian summer expected

Normal precip expected for Ontario, Quebec

Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Warmer-than-normal temperatures are expected across all of Canada for the next three months, with average precipitation in most of the agricultural areas of the Prairies. That’s according to the latest long-range seasonal forecast from Environment Canada, released Friday. The government department calls for a 50-70 per cent chance of above-normal temperatures from July […] Read more

Turkeys. (Scott Bauer photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Canada books first month in 19 without bird flu outbreak

Eight commercial poultry farms remain active sites

Reading Time: 2 minutes June 2023 appears set to be Canada’s first month without a new highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak in poultry or other domesticated birds since the disease returned to this country in late 2021. Canada has booked 322 outbreaks in domestic birds in the past 19 months, of which 31 were detected so far in 2023. […] Read more


CBOT December 2023 corn with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn, soy tumble on forecasts for much-needed rains

CBOT September wheat also lower

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures fell more than four per cent and soybeans more than two per cent on Wednesday, pressured by forecasts for beneficial rains in the Midwest where crops have struggled with dry conditions, analysts said. Wheat also declined, pressured by the expanding U.S. winter wheat harvest and a larger-than-expected Canadian […] Read more

(Iggi_Boo/iStock/Getty Images)

Pulse weekly outlook: Exports strong through three quarters

Prices rationing demand for old-crop

Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Canadian pulse exports continue at a solid pace through nine months of the 2022-23 marketing year, with old-crop prices trending higher over the past month as the market rations demand ahead of the new-crop harvest. Canada has exported 1.713 million tonnes of lentils during the crop year to date, with Turkey the top […] Read more


File photo of the Raohe Night Market in Taipei, Taiwan’s capital. (Fazon1/iStock/Getty Images)

Taiwan formally opens to OTM Canadian beef

BSE-era restriction now lifted

Reading Time: 2 minutes Taiwan has officially lifted its import ban on Canadian beef and beef products from animals over 30 months of age (OTMs). Canada’s Trade Minister Mary Ng and Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau announced the move Friday, saying Taiwan’s decision “will offer an opportunity to expand Canadian beef exports to Taiwan and diversify export markets in the […] Read more

(RyanJLane/E+/Getty Images)

Canada warns VCOOL would sabotage shared Canada-U.S. goals, supply chains

The Canadian government has submitted its views on proposed U.S. food labelling rules

Reading Time: 2 minutes Proposed U.S. country of origin labelling rules run contrary to mutual Canada and U.S. goals to reduce inflation, improve food security and build resilient supply chains, according to a submission from the Canadian government to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “One of the great strengths of the U.S.-Canada bilateral relationship is the successful integration of […] Read more


File photo of barley being loaded off the combine. (Collab Media/iStock/Getty Images)

Australia expects ‘favourable decision’ from China on barley

Heavy tariffs in place since 2020

Reading Time: < 1 minute Sydney | Reuters — Australia is expecting a positive decision over the next two weeks from China to fully settle a dispute over barley tariffs, Trade Minister Don Farrell said Thursday. “We are expecting in the next couple of weeks a favourable decision on the tariffs that has prevented Australian barley going into China,” Farrell […] Read more

Viterra’s oilseed crush plant at Becancour, Que. (Viterra.com)

Bunge deal for Viterra to boost oilseed dominance, renewable diesel potential

Canada's Competition Bureau pledges to review deal

Reading Time: 3 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Bunge’s planned acquisition of Viterra would make the world’s biggest oilseed crusher even more dominant and secure a larger role in the expanding renewable diesel industry, although it may face competition hurdles. Under the deal to create an agricultural giant worth about $34 billion including debt, Bunge’s crushing capacity will increase […] Read more