File photo of a pea crop south of Ethelton, Sask. on Aug. 1, 2019. (Dave Bedard photo)

Pulse weekly outlook: Saskatchewan’s pulse harvest seen as average

MarketsFarm — As the harvest in Saskatchewan wraps up for 2022, pulse specialist Dale Risula said pulse crops were quite good this year — a definite improvement over last year’s drought-stricken production. “Overall for the province we will likely see average production this year, although some areas suffered pretty badly,” Risula said. He said there



There have been two notable exceptions when fertilizer prices spiked to extremely wide levels over crop prices.

The grain-fertilizer balancing act

There’s a strong correlation between grain and fertilizer prices

Every business is an economic equation balancing input costs with output prices, expenses and revenues to achieve the all-important profit margin number. For many businesses, the price of those inputs and outputs are relatively stable. In farming, where outputs are volatile agricultural commodities and inputs are made from equally volatile energy, mineral and metal commodities, managing both sides


(Ozo Foods video screeengrab via YouTube)

Meatpacker JBS to close U.S. plant-based foods business

Chicago | Reuters — Brazilian meatpacker JBS is closing its U.S. plant-based foods business, Planterra Foods, after about two years, the company said on Monday. The closure signals increasing troubles in the plant-based protein sector, where U.S. sales are flattening. Colorado-based Planterra sold fake meat under the Ozo brand, but JBS will now focus on

Organic exports dipped in 2021

Organic exports dipped in 2021

Canadians’ demand for organic products continued to increase last year

Canada’s organic food exports saw a sharp drop in 2021 compared to 2020’s banner year. Export totals dropped to $417.3 million from nearly $608 million in 2020, according to new figures from the Canadian Organic Trade Alliance (COTA) presented in a Sept. 12 webinar. However, that drop doesn’t look as stark when compared to 2019,



(Leonid Eremeychuk/iStock/Getty Images)

U.S. trade commission sues pesticide makers, alleging price scheme

Washington | Reuters — The U.S. Federal Trade Commission on Thursday sued two top pesticide manufacturers for allegedly entering into exclusive contracts with distributors that kept prices paid by farmers artificially high. The consumer watchdog agency was motivated to bring the case in part because rising costs and supply chain disruptions from Russia’s invasion of


(Lightguard/iStock/Getty Images)

Saskatchewan harvest advances under varied rainfall

Harvest ahead of five-year average

MarketsFarm — Saskatchewan’s harvest progressed during the week of Sept. 20-26 despite variable weather conditions across the province, according to Saskatchewan’s weekly crop report released on Sept. 29. As of Sept. 26, 81 per cent of the province’s harvest was complete, up eight percentage points from the previous week and six points ahead of the

(4loops/iStock/Getty Images)

Pulse weekly outlook: Canada’s pea, lentil exports to rise while prices fall

MarketsFarm — Canadian pea and lentil exports should see considerable increases during the 2022-23 marketing year after drought cut into available supplies in 2021-22, according to the latest supply/demand production from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). However, total movement may still come in well below five-year averages. Canadian pea exports are forecast at 2.7 million