Better Pork

Devin Lashley 1. The U.S. Federal Reserve meeting is expected to take place Wednesday July 31st. A higher than expected U.S. 2nd quarter GDP at +2.8 percent has lowered the odds of a 25 basis rate cut in September from 93.6 percent to 89.5 percentas the U.S. economy seems to be accelerating in growth. A lower PCE (Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index) report due to be released Friday, July 26, 2024, could offset this. 2. The USDA Crop Progress Report comes out Monday, July 29,and will likely show very little to no reductions in crop quality, with the latest drought monitor showing conditions improving for most major crops across the U.S. However, higher G-E conditions in both corn and soybeans in the middle of July is rare and suggest big large crops are coming. Crop conditions could start to fall in the first half of August.(August 5th USDA crop progress report as hot/dry weather from July 31to August 8could impact 2/3rds of the U.S. with temperatures10+ degrees fahrenheit hotter than normal.) 3. The U.S. Employment Report comes out Friday, August 2and will likely show a continued gradual incline in the U.S. employment rate. Job seeker confidence in Q2 2024 hit its lowest in over two years, per ZipRecruiter. Despite resilient confidence amid Federal rate hikes, the labor market is gradually slowing down. Economists are beginning to warn that job finding is harder now and further cooling could trouble the market. 4. The USDA Oilseeds Production, Consumption and Stocks Report comes out Thursday, August 1and will likely show a decline in the amount of oilseeds processed, as plants are shut down for maintenance. The U.S. soybean crush in June 2024 dropped over 4% from the previous month, following a record high in May, according to the National Oilseed Processors Association. 5. Weather Reports: next week, the ridge of high pressure that has currently been sitting on the western U.S. and the Canada prairies will be moving to the central U.S., but it’s too late to impact corn and wheat yields. Itcould still harm soybean yields. The Sunday night weather forecast will be key as weather models could suddenly throw in some moisture or turn drier. However,this rare second late weather scare will come to an end by mid-August, before funds defend their short positions and start selling again.

Prior to the FPT Ag Ministers’ Meeting in Whitehorse, Farms.com connected with multiple ministers to discuss their priorities leading up to the meeting. Now that the meetings have concluded, Farms.com is once again speaking with ministers about their takeaways from the meeting and next steps to ensure some of the items outlined in the joint communique come to fruition. The first minister to participate is Pam Alexis, the minister of agriculture in B.C., who noted strong collaboration between colleagues. “I was pleasantly surprised at how unanimous we were in the voice,” she told Farms.com. “That was an excellent takeaway, and I was so proud to be part of that.” One of the commitments from the FPT meetings is the need to optimize business risk management programs to ensure they’re available and viable for producers. Multiple ministers identified the need for change, Minister Alexis said. “I wasn’t the only voice concerned about the lack of change over the last several years,” she said.

Bayer is bringing a new DEKALB canola hybrid to the market for Western Canadian farmers that will be available for the 2025 growing season. DK401TL is the company’s highest-yielding canola and has performed better than competitor hybrids seen across the Prairies, said Nikki Vercaigne, DEKALB west marketing campaign lead. “In our farmer-led trials, DK401TL outyields InVigor L340PC, which is the most widely grown canola hybrid in Western Canada, by about 107.8 per cent,” she told Farms.com. That dataset is from 17 trials in 2023. In addition to the improved yield, DK401TL also includes a suite of agronomic packages to provide better performance, Vercaigne said. “These include Straight Cut Plus, strong disease protection from blackleg and clubroot, and flexible weed control DK401TL is a TruFlex LibertyLink hybrid,” she said. “It also has optimum harvestability. We see earlier maturing and dry down to support smoother combining in the fall to protect yield advantages.” In 2024, Bayer is conducting about 140 market development trials with DK401TL across the P

Image by Phil Reese from Pixabay AGCO Corporation, a global leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of agricultural machinery and precision ag technology, has announced it will sell the majority of its Grain & Protein business to American Industrial Partners, an industrial investor with approximately U$16 billion in assets under management. The all-cash sale is valued at US$700 million and is subject to working capital and other customary closing adjustments. 'The divestiture of Grain & Protein supports AGCO's strategic transformation, recently accelerated by the PTx Trimble joint venture, which closed in April 2024,' said Eric Hansotia, AGCO's Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer. 'Divesting this business allows us to streamline and sharpen our focus on AGCO's portfolio of award-winning agricultural machinery and precision ag technology products, which underpins a long-term focus on high growth, high margin, and high free cash flow generating businesses.' He added, 'AIP has extensive experience in the industrial sector and vast carve-out expertise, which we believe will unlock new potential for the Grain & Protein business. We believe the move will help ensure its brands continue to lead the market in grain, seed, and protein production equipment and remain well-positioned to deliver for farmers.” AGCO expects to use the net proceeds from the transaction consistent with its stated capital allocation priorities, including debt repayment, disciplined investment in technology and organic growth initiatives, and return of capital to shareholders. The transaction includes the sale of five primary Grain & Protein brands: GSI; Automated Production (AP); Cumberland; Cimbria, and; Tecno. The sale excludes AGCO's Grain & Protein business in China. The transaction is anticipated to close before the end of the year, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Duluth, Georgia, USA, AGCO had net sales of approximately $14.4 billion in 2023. Its core brands include Fendt, GSI, Massey Ferguson, PTx, and Valtra. For more information, visit www.agcocorp.com. AIP’s investment portfolio includes aerospace and defense, automotive, building products, capital goods, chemicals, industrial services, industrial technology, logistics, metals and mining, and transportation, among others. With annual revenues of ~$25 billion, it employs approximately 65,000 employees. More information can be found at www.americanindustrial.com

Image via Rural Ontario Institute The Rural Ontario Institute (ROI) and partner United Way Hastings & Prince Edward have announced the inaugural , which will be held September 7 in Belleville, Ontario. The goal of the summit is to inspire a movement of young “Change Makers” to be the change they want to see in their future, their community, and the world around them. During the event, ROI’s Rural Change Makers and youth from Hastings and Prince Edward County will engage with up to 500 youth, between the ages of 15 and 35, from across Ontario in a diverse and inspiring setting of discovery, learning, sharing, and collaboration. The event will take place at Centennial Secondary School, 160 Palmer Road, Belleville, from 8 AM to 4 PM to increase awareness and connect young leaders with local community resources and agencies, fostering youth engagement and civic participation. “We are thrilled to partner with the Rural Ontario Institute to bring the inaugural Rural Youth Summit to Belleville. This event offers an incredible opportunity for young people and our community in general,” stated Kaitlyn Lalonde, Director of Community Impact, United Way Hastings & Prince Edward. “When youth are mobilized to meaningfully engage, learn, and be inspired, they bring their passions, knowledge, perspectives, and ideas back to the community, and we all benefit. I am so excited to participate in this event and be part of the positive impact that it will have.” Added Hardik Patel, the founder of Belleville International and Co-Chair of the : 'As a proud international student, founder of Belleville International, and a 2023 Change Maker at the Rural Ontario Institute, I am thrilled to co-chair the 2024 Rural Ontario Youth Summit in the beautiful Belleville, Bay of Quinte region. This summit represents more than just an event; it's a testament to the power of youth engagement and community spirit in the entire Quinte region. It wouldn't be possible without the support I have received from the local community and organizations. “By bringing together young minds from across rural Ontario, we're not only fostering connections but also igniting inspiration and awareness that will shape our future. This summit embodies my commitment to giving back to the community that has embraced me, proving that with passion and dedication, we can create meaningful change regardless of our background. Together, we're not just discussing the future; we're actively building it, right here in the Bay of Quinte,” continued Patel. “Meeting so many different people at Ignite and experiencing things I have never done before through the Rural Change Maker program has had a really big impact on me. I feel brave, and I am no longer afraid of embracing positive change,” said Mahbuba Airin, a 2023 Rural Change Maker and Co-Chair of the. “It’s an exciting time, and the summit will provide youth from across Ontario with the opportun

A new report by Agri-Food Economic Systems suggests Canada's agricultural sector may be well-positioned to address global food insecurity due to climate change. The report, titled "Agri-Food Economic Systems Policy Concepts Paper," examines the anticipated effects of climate change on agriculture and calls for a policy shift towards adaptation. Lead researcher Dr. Al Mussell acknowledges the varying impacts of climate change on different regions. While some areas will face agricultural threats, others, like Canada, stand to benefit. "National data shows an average temperature increase of 1.6 degrees Celsius and higher precipitation since 1948," Dr. Mussell explains. "This rise is particularly noticeable in winter and northern Canada." Precipitation patterns are also shifting, with areas like southern Ontario and eastern Manitoba experiencing more rainfall. The Prairies, however, have seen subtler changes, primarily a longer growing season. Dr. Mussell highlights the potential for these changes in Canada's north. "A warmer and wetter climate expands the area suitable for agriculture," he says. "Crops previously not feasible, like grain corn in the Prairies, may now become viable." Looking ahead, Dr. Mussell suggests Canadian agriculture should focus on adapting to climate change in a way that strengthens global food security. This could involve developing new practices and cultivating new crops in regions with extended growing seasons. By adapting effectively, Canada's agricultural sector has the potential to play a more significant role in feeding the world in a changing climate. Photo credit: Pexels-Pixabay

Dr. Wayne Lees, coordinator of Squeal on Pigs Manitoba, reports encouraging news in the fight against wild pigs in western Canada. Research conducted over the past two years suggests the situation may be more manageable than previously thought. Squeal on Pigs Manitoba leads Manitoba's eradication efforts and collaborates with other North American groups. Dr. Lees highlights the value of recent data: "We're gaining new insights from eradication efforts over the past two years, allowing us to develop a Manitoba-specific approach to managing the problem." A key difference identified is the population density: "We have far fewer pigs compared to the U.S.," Dr. Lees explains. "They're also harder to locate here." Breeding patterns appear to differ as well. Dr. Lees suggests that "Manitoba's colder climate and limited food supply might limit reproduction compared to the U.S." Additionally, Manitoba's wild pigs seem to favor natural food sources: "They'll eat crops, but they can thrive in parkland areas with acorns and grubs." These distinctions, according to Dr. Lees, necessitate a unique approach: "Our situation is very different from the U.S., Europe, Asia, or even Australia. This is prompting us to analyze our data more thoroughly to understand the pigs' survival strategies, population dynamics (age and sex distribution), and develop targeted control methods specifically suited to Manitoba." By understanding the unique characteristics of Manitoba's wild pig population, Squeal on Pigs Manitoba is developing a more effective eradication strategy, offering hope for a future free from these invasive animals. Photo Credit: Pexels Magda Ehlers

The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) has revoked a Saskatchewan business’s grain dealer license. The CGC took away LSM Grain Ltd.’s license as of July 23, the commission’s website says. The Saskatoon-based company “is an organic and conventional trading company dealing in the food industry, the pet food industry and the animal feed industry,” its website states. The CGC is looking into the company's financial situation. "The CGC’s Audit Unit is conducting an onsite final audit of LSM Grain’s outstanding financial liabilities to producers," Christianne Hacault, a CGC spokeswoman, told Farms.com in an email. "The CGC holds a $2 million bond to compensate producers who have delivered grain to LSM Grain and who make eligible claims for payment." Prairie grain farmers may be owed money by LSM Grain for unpaid deliveries. Producers may also be eligible for payment security under the CGC’s Safeguards for Grain Farmers Program and should consider contacting the commission. Farmers who do business with LSM Grain after July 23, however, will not be protected. Under this program, licensed grain companies are required to provide payment security to the CGC to cover money owed to producers for grain deliveries. That security can come in the form of a bo

U.S. Ethanol exports poised to set new record By Farms.com This year marks a significant milestone for U.S. ethanol exports, as announced by the U.S. Grains Council at the Corn Congress. With projections set at 1.7 billion gallons, the U.S. is expected to surpass its previous record, indicating a 50% increase compared to last year. Canada and Brazil are among the top markets, with Canada potentially becoming the first billion-gallon market for U.S. ethanol. Trade challenges, like Brazil's imposed tariff, are being addressed through advocacy efforts in Washington, aiming to enhance trade conditions and promote ethanol as a competitive biofuel on the global stage. Additionally, the classification of corn starch ethanol as an advanced biofuel is pursued to leverage its potential in the sustainable aviation fuel sector. Corn exports are also performing strongly, up 27% year over year, largely driven by demand from Mexico. This is in spite of political efforts within Mexico to limit GMO corn imports, highlighting the effectiveness of U.S. trade advocacy. Distillers grains have similarly seen a 17% increase in exports, with the U.S. Grains Council's market development efforts paying off in diverse markets. Funding boosts like the $17 million from the Regional Agricultural Promotion Program enhance these efforts, focusing on both immediate trade challenges and long-term market development for U.S. agricultural products. This robust growth in exports across ethanol, corn, and distillers grains underscores the strategic importance of agricultural trade policies and the proactive role of the U.S. Grains Council in fostering global market opportunities for U.S. agriculture.

ByDevin Lashley Farms.com Risk Management Intern Photo Credit: Pexels - Polina Zimmerman Domestically, Trump has strong support in farm states and has previously provided substantial trade compensation payments to farmers affected by trade disputes. But, would another Trump Presidency lead to a return of trade wars? Following the attempted Assassination of Donald Trump and the dropping out of the race by Joe Biden, the race to the Whitehouse is more uncertain than ever but Trump leads the poles at 62 percent vs. Harris at 36 percent. When it comes to biofuels, Donald Trump 2.0 would not be good for renewal biofuels as he prefers to drill for oil, and we could revisit the trade war from 2016 – 2019 with China and other countries around the world. Trump's policies could lead to increased tariffs (60-100% with China) and 10 percent with Europe because Trump does not like the fact that they do not but enough U.S. ag or U.S. cars it could reduce demand for U.S. ag products and drive prices lower as these counties retaliate. During his previous term, Trump imposed steep tariffs on Chinese goods, leading to a trade war that negatively affected U.S. agricultural exports. The USDA reported that these tariffs resulted in about $27 billion in lost exports between 2018 and 2019, with the majority of these losses stemming from reduced trade with China. China is a major player in the global agricultural market and a top importer of U.S. agricultural goods. A reduction in Chinese purchases would likely lead to an oversupply of these commodities in the U.S., causing prices to drop. This would put significant financial pressure on American farmers, who already operate on thin margins. The reduced demand from China could benefit other exporting countries like Brazil, which might see increased demand for their agricultural products. Trump's protectionist policies could also lead to further renegotiations of trade agreements, including the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). These negotiations could be challenging, especially with the recent election of Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum, who may not align with Trump's trade policies. This uncertainty could create instability in the agricultural markets, affecting prices and trade flows. As noted above, domestically, Trump has strong support in farm states and has previously provided substantial trade compensation payments to farmers affected by trade disputes. However, increased tariffs and trade wars could lead to long-term harm to the U.S. agricultural sector, making it difficult for farmers to plan and invest for the future. Trump could revisit the Phase 1 trade deal and introduce a Phase 2 but that could take time. We definitely need a new trade strategy for China. The biofuel policy under a Trump administration is also uncertain. Changes in biofuel mandates could significantly impact the demand for crops like corn and soybeans, which are used in ethanol and biodiesel production. Trump prefers fossil fuels and wants to drill more for oil and eliminate the EV mandate. Additionally, Trump's "America First" approach might strain relationships with key trade partners such as Canada. While Canadian politics may shift to more conservative leadership that aligns better with a Trump administration, it remains uncertain how this would affect trade relations and agricultural exports between the two countries. In summary, a Trump 2024 presid

Loblaws had to issue an apology online after a text message as part of a digital flyer campaign encouraged shoppers to bypass farmers’ markets. “The text was meant to direct customers to our NoFrills local summer produce program,” Loblaws said in its apology on X. “However, the message in the text didn’t match the spirit of the campaign for this we sincerely apologize.” On July 20, Ontario subscribers to No Frills’s digital flyer received the following text: “Skip the line at the farmers’ market. We have fresh produce at low prices. Shop now,” the message said, accompanied by a link to the digital flyer.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) made three industry announcements on July 22. First, prior to Dairy Farmers of Canada’s (DFC) annual general meeting in Newfoundland and Labrador, Minister MacAulay announced $8.5 million of support for two DFC projects through the AgriAssurance Program of the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP). About $500,000 of that funding will come over five years to advance sustainability and public trust in the dairy industry with the proAction quality assurance program, which ensures Canadian dairy farms maintain high production standards. The remaining $3.5 million, also over five years, will be used in part to strengthen DairyTrace, Canada’s dairy cattle traceability program. This program helps promote industry sustainability and helps prevent disease spread. The second July 22 announcement came with support from the Ontario government. Together, Ottawa and Ontario will contribute up to $538,000 through the Sustainable CAP to offer the Farmer Wellness Initiative to farm workers to support their mental health. The Farmer Wellness Initiative is managed by the Canadian Mental Health Association and delivered by Agriculture Wellness Ontario.

Image courtesy of Novus International, Inc. Novus International, Inc. has announced that Adam Banaszak has joined the company as its new Director of Global Channel Management. In this new role, Banaszak will be responsible for solidifying its position as the leader in intelligent nutrition and the top choice for distributors of animal nutrition solutions. “For the past few years, the Novus team has done an amazing job of refocusing the business and setting a trajectory for growth,” Banaszak explained. “My goal is to enable that growth in markets where we work through channel partners, i.e., distributors.” Banaszak comes to Novus from Trouw Nutrition, where he served as General Manager responsible for all aspects of the company’s export business across major markets in Asia-Pacific, from South Korea to New Zealand. He is based in Thailand. Ed Galo, the Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Novus, called Banaszak’s expertise in commercial leadership and business development a perfect fit for this new role. “Our long-term strategy involves both growing our direct business and significantly enhancing the way we work with distribution partners to optimize our market coverage across all important animal protein-producing regions of the world, ensuring our customers have access to our intelligent nutrition solutions. Our global team and channel partners allow us to achieve maximum leverage of our current asset base, intellectual property, and application expertise and bring exceptional service to our customers,” commented Galo. “Adam’s expertise in bringing people and plans together will be critical towards the realization of our goals.” Banaszak added that managing distributors has been a critical element of his most recent experience, and having done that across many markets and cultures, he feels confident he can add value to “the already amazing Novus team, not by myself but rather by becoming a part of the global Novus team.” Headquartered in Chesterfield, Missouri, Novus is a nutrition company providing solutions for the animal agriculture industry around the world. Its portfolio includes trace minerals, nutritional enzymes, feed digestibility and meat quality solutions, and methionine supplementation products, as well as a network of experts globally to guide management best practices. Novus is privately owned by the Japanese businesses Mitsui & Co., Ltd. and Nippon Soda Co., Ltd. For information about partnering with Novus, visit www.novusint.com.

The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA), representing 190,000 farm families, applauds the commitment from federal, provincial, and territorial (FPT) Ministers of Agriculture to support the Grocery Code of Conduct (GCOC) Adjudication Office. This industry-led code aims to create a fairer marketplace for farmers. The CFA has been instrumental in developing the GCOC since 2021, collaborating with stakeholders across the grocery supply chain. While implementation details are still being finalized, the initial government funding provides crucial time to establish the tools and processes needed for the code's long-term success. "CFA has been at the table encouraged the development of this code for years," said CFA President Keith Currie. "Seeing broad stakeholder support and initial government backing is extremely positive. We look forward to the code's positive impact on supply chain dynamics and the reward of our hard work coming to life." The CFA also recognizes the emphasis Ministers placed on collaborating with producers to leverage technology, data, and innovation. Discussions during the CFA's FPT Roundtable highlighted the critical role data plays in agriculture. "Data is fundamental to everything we do," said Currie. "Following last week's discussions, it's clear that government support is crucial for creating conditions that optimize data use for farm productivity, food security, and sectoral sustainability." The CFA remains committed to working with governments and industry to ensure Canadian agriculture maximizes the potential of data to drive sustainable and productive growth.

Expert Insights on Crop Management and Market Access By: Farms.com Canadian farmers gathered virtually for a crucial webinar titled "2024 Keep a Clean Pre-Harvest Tips and Tools," where industry experts from Pulse Canada and Canola Council of Canada shared essential advice on managing crops effectively. The webinar, moderated by Jeff English from Pulse Canada, emphasized the importance of market readiness and compliance with international standards for crop protection products. "Canadian agriculture's success hinges on steady access to international markets," noted Jeff English, highlighting the webinar's focus on maintaining market access through informed on-farm decisions. The discussion underscored the proper use of glyphosate, noting its application should coincide with specific crop maturity stages to avoid market access issues. Christa Zusak, Director of Crop Protection and Production for Cals Canada, elaborated on scouting for diseases and the right timing for applying crop protection products. She stressed, "It's crucial to assess the least mature parts of the field to avoid premature applications that can lead to residue issues." Ian F., an Agronomy Specialist with the Canola Council of Canada, provided detailed guidance on the ideal application timings for glyphosate, especially in canola. He advised waiting for 50-60% seed color change before application to ensure the chemical does not affect the crop's marketability. "Making sure that the crop is at the correct stage before applying glyphosate is paramount to avoid trade issues," Ian emphasized. The webinar also covered the implications of excessive moisture on crop maturity, uniformity, and the consequent adjustments necessary for application timings of various products. Greg Bartley, Director of Crop Protection and Crop Quality for Pulse Canada, pointed out the importance of adhering to label instructions and consulting grain buyers before applying any crop protection product, especially in uncertain weather conditions.

North American pork producers are being encouraged to take every precaution and to focus on day-to-day biosecurity to keep disease causing organisms off the farm.The Swine Health Information Center's monthly domestic and global swine disease surveillance reports, released as part of its July eNewsletter, indicates African Swine Fever remains the dominant concern globally and the disease we're seeing the most. SHIC Associate Director Dr. Lisa Becton says African Swine Fever is still active and, for example, we are seeing outbreaks continue in Germany, South Korea, Latvia and India. Quote-Dr. Lisa Becton-Swine Health Information Center: In Germany especially its concerning because we're seeing wild boar become positive in areas in the western part of the country that have never been identified before and so that tells us wild boar still present a significant risk for ASF spread.However, in other countries and on other farms we still see commercial swine becoming positive and so I think the big take home is to focus on what are biosecurity things that we can do to exclude and prevent the virus from ever getting into farms and then also focus on day-to-day biosecurity. While we don't have ASF in the U.S., we do have other diseases and basic biosecurity steps can reduce the risk and the potential for them coming into the farm.Some focus areas include who comes in and out of the farm, where have the been before, looking at transportation and sanitation but then also how do we bring in supplies and feed and prevent people from bringing some of their foods into the farm that could potentially expose swine to ASF.For exclusion from the boar standpoint, it really is looking at different biosecurity methods that we can perform to prevent wild boar from getting into a farm or getting access to around the farm such as fencing and reducing feed spills in and around the barn. SHIC's global and domestic swine disease surveillance reports can be accessed at swinehealth.org. For more visit Farmscape.Ca.

Manitoba Agriculture reports the past week saw warmer temperatures which helped advance crop growth along with variable amounts of rainfall and hail in some regions.Manitoba Agriculture released its weekly crop report Tuesday. Anne Kirk, a cereal crop specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, says we did have much warmer temperatures over this past week, which advanced crop growth especially in those warmer season crops like corn and soybeans, but scattered storms and thunderstorms brought variable amounts of rain and in some areas, hail. Quote-Anne Kirk-Manitoba Agriculture: Crop quality is fairly variable as well.For spring wheat for example, most of the crop would be rated as good.A small percent in each region would be rated as poor and then a small percent is rated as excellent in each region.In most areas for most crops, we are seeing some drowned out areas in fields so areas that did have precipitation sitting for quite some time do have drowned out areas or areas with yellow or delayed crop growth. For spring cereals in particular, because we did see some of these heavy storms over the past week and on the weekend, we did have some lodging in cereal fields in particular.For field peas in some regions, it's a bit tricky because they don't really like being wet so more concerns with root rot and poor field conditions just in those very wet regions.Iron deficiencies, sclerosis in soybeans is showing up in fields also as a result of those moisture conditions. I'm thinking general crop condition look good.It really depends on how wet areas certain areas have been because crops obviously don't like to be under water for extended periods of time so in areas were crops have been under water for extended periods, fields can be fairly patchy or have larger drowned out areas. Kirk says warmer temperatures forecast over the weekend and into next week are expected advance crop growth, but because so much can change between now and harvest it's still too early to estimate yield potential. For more visit Farmscape.Ca.

Saskatchewan Agriculture reports warmer temperatures over the past week stimulated accelerated crop development but a lack of rainfall in some regions is increasing crop stress and causing concern.Saskatchewan Agriculture released its crop report Thursday for the period from July 9th to 15th.Meghan Rosso, a Crops Extension Specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture says some areas are starting to notice drier conditions. Quote-Meghan Rosso-Saskatchewan Agriculture: A week of warmer weather and reduced rainfall has accelerated crop advancement and enabled haying operations to progress throughout the province.With the forecasted heat over the next week many regions are hoping for moisture to help support crop development, reduce crop stress and sustain topsoil moisture conditions. The recent warmer weather has also allowed for quicker crop development with more crops moving closer to their normal stages of development as compared to previous weeks.As we look to crop damage, producers in the southwest portion of the province along with a few areas in the southeast are reporting minor to moderate crop damage in relation to a lack of moisture occurring within these regions.The increased heat that is forecasted will cause further crop deterioration if moisture is not received. Additional crop damage throughout the rest of the province over the past week is mainly due to heat, gophers, grasshoppers, hail and wind.As we increase in the heat units we are receiving, that's going to help with crop advancement and move those crops into more normal stages of development.That being said, the increased heat that we are receiving is potentially going to cause some issues with further crop stress in areas that are already experiencing some moisture conditions that have been reduced with the heat and the lack of rainfall in those areas.That might adjust slightly over the coming weeks with the increases in the temperatures that we're seeing as well though. Rosso acknowledges moisture conditions are variable.She says the southwest is experiencing the drier conditions but moving southeast and more north moisture conditions are closer to adequate.For more visit Farmscape.Ca.

Pork producers are being encouraged to take advantage of the summer lull in disease transmission to take steps to enhance biosecurity.As part of its July eNewslettter the Swine Health Information Center has released its monthly domestic and global swine diseases surveillance reports. SHIC Associate Director Dr. Lisa Becton says the good news is the past month has seen a reduction in several different diseases, including PRRS, PED and porcine delta coronavirus but conversely there has been an increase in Porcine Circovirus positive cases in sows, and an increase in Porcine circovirus 3 and Porcine circovirus 2. Quote-Dr. Lisa Becton-Swine Health Information Center: In summer historically we do see a downward trend of many diseases but that should tell us that we can't let our guard down because summer does bring other challenges for heat stressers and other different things that can take a toll on the animals and so we always need to asses what are different things that we can do to improve on biosecurity.One thing that producers can assess is taking advantage of the warmer weather and do deep cleaning on the farm, whether that's in barns in between turns, looking at the assessment of chutes and walkways, taking advantage of both sunlight and hot temperatures to help do some disease reduction. When we assess other diseases such as PCV3, it's always important to look at what are the different interventions that are being performed on sow herds and in our gilt management strategies that can help reduce some of the impact and even positive cases.There was a PCV webinar that SHIC hosted earlier this year that can provide tips and ticks for managing PCV and the latest information on this virus. Dr. Becton notes, when we look at PRRS, we see not only a reduction overall but also a reduction of positive cases in the wean to harvest category, however there are pockets of increased PRRS activity in certain states including South Dakota and Indiana.

The coordinator of Squeal on Pigs Manitoba reports research over the past two years suggests the wild pig situation in western Canada is potentially much more controllable than other regions.Squeal on Pigs Manitoba is coordinating Manitoba's efforts to eradicate wild pigs from the landscape and is working with other groups throughout North America. Squeal on Pigs Manitoba Coordinator Dr. Wayne Lees says data collected during eradication efforts over two years is providing new insights and we're starting to develop our own sense of how to manage the problem in Manitoba. Quote-Dr. Wayne Lees-Squeal on Pigs Manitoba: The other projections of information that we've had before have mainly come from the U.S. and we're finding out that our Canadian wild boar situation is very very much different than the U.S.We don't have nearly the number of pigs that they have in the U.S., our pigs are much harder to find.I'm not convinced that they breed nearly as prolifically as they do in the U.S. I think our cold weather and probably limited food supply will take a toll on the population and our pigs tend to congregate in areas that have natural feed such as acorns and grubs.They will eat crops but they can survive quite well in a parkland setting.I think that makes our situation in Canada very very much different.It's different from the situation in the U.S., it's different from the situation in Europe or Australia or even in Asia. This is making us examine our data so that we can better understand how these pigs actually survive, what are the population dynamics in terms of age distribution and sex distribution and this will lead to much better control methods that are better targeted to our particular situation. Those looking for information or to report sightings are encouraged to connect through squealonpigsmb.org.