Pacific Ocean sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in degrees Celsius for the week centred on Dec. 19. (CPC.ncep.noaa.gov)

El Nino likely not responsible for warm, dry conditions

Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — The above-normal temperatures Western Canada has generally experienced since the fall weren’t necessarily caused by an El Nino. Rather, to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the phenomenon that’s likely affected the weather was a ‘blob’ that formed off of the coast of British Columbia. “It’s a big warm pocket of ocean water and […] Read more

Average sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies over the Pacific Ocean for the week centred on Dec. 5. (CPC.ncep.noaa.gov)

U.S. forecaster sees 90 per cent chance of El Nino in winter

Reading Time: < 1 minute Reuters — There is a 90 per cent chance of the El Nino weather pattern emerging during the Northern Hemisphere winter of 2018-19, a U.S. government weather forecaster said on Thursday. “The official forecast favours the formation of a weak El Nino,” the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center (CPC) said in a monthly forecast. […] Read more



Leah Olson, president, Agricultural Manufacturers of Canada (AMC).

Interview: A taxing time for manufacturers

Ag manufacturers see uncertainty and higher production costs from steel tariffs

Reading Time: 6 minutes The opening salvos in a trade war initiated by the current U.S. administration are already having an impact on all the manufacturing sectors in Canada, the U.S and around the world, most of it negative. For example, it’s been announced that Harley Davidson, that icon of U.S. brands, feels it’s necessary to move some of […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder market undergoes minor recovery

Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearlings sold $3 to as much as $6 higher while calf markets were relatively unchanged. Feeder cattle futures experienced a $5-$7 rally, which quickly renewed optimism in the cash trade. Ideas that yearling supplies will drop below year-ago levels on both sides of the border this August spurred on […] Read more



Canadian drought conditions at March 31, 2018. (Drought Monitor map, Agr.gc.ca)

Prairie drought conditions improve

Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — While drought conditions in Western Canada have improved following late-season snowfall, it isn’t a completely rosy picture just yet. “We have seen significant departures from normal in terms of precipitation (on the Prairies over) a long period. The winter hasn’t been above average (for precipitation) so there hasn’t been a whole lot […] Read more

(SecondCup.com)

Second Cup to set up cannabis lounges in West

Reading Time: 3 minutes Updated, April 13 — Canada’s No. 2 specialty coffeehouse chain has a partnership deal in place to convert some of its outlets in Western Canada to recreational cannabis shops and lounges. Second Cup on Thursday announced a “strategic alliance” with National Access Cannabis Corp. (NAC) to roll out a network of NAC-branded recreational cannabis dispensaries, […] Read more


(Arysta.cl)

Arysta plans market expansion in Western Canada

Reading Time: 3 minutes CNS Canada — Arysta LifeScience, a crop chemical company known in Western Canada for its line of Everest products, now wants to become a household name for Prairie farmers. Platform Specialty Products, Arysta’s parent company, last Aug. 24 announced plans to separate its agricultural solutions and performance solutions segments. Platform Specialty chairman Martin Franklin said […] Read more

Late-season snowstorm brings Prairies moisture

Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — After a winter spent waiting for snow, farmers across the southern Prairies were happy when the forecast was right and Western Canada received a late winter snowstorm. “We’ve heard moisture’s coming before and it doesn’t show up or it goes around us. So when it started snowing and it started adding up […] Read more