Bull riders returning to Brandon

atAfter making their Brandon debut in 2022, Professional Bull Riders Canada is returning to the Wheat City in the spring for another elite cup series event.

Climate change affecting Christmas tree farms across Canada, expert say

VANCOUVER - The effects of climate change are taking a toll on Christmas tree farms across Canada, with one forestry expert and the head of the Canadian Christmas Tree Association saying the sector that's already undergoing shifts will need to adapt.

The festive trees take eight to 12 years to reach the size most people look for, and young seedlings are particularly vulnerable to climate risks, said Richard Hamelin, head of the forest conservation sciences department at the University of B.C.

Much of the province has experienced prolonged drought and extreme heat over the last two summers, and the seedlings have shallow root systems that don't reach beyond the very dry layers of soil near the surface, Hamelin explained.

Meanwhile, their older counterparts may survive but lose their needles or turn brown as a result of extreme heat and drought, he said in an interview.

Canadian agriculture groups hope new Indo-Pacific strategy leads to trade deals

OTTAWA - Agriculture commodity groups are applauding the Liberal government’s long-awaited Indo-Pacific strategy and hoping it will lead to more, and better, free trade deals.

The strategy, announced Sunday in Vancouver, includes commitments to increase military spending and build closer ties with countries such as India.

Included in the $2.3-billion plan is a promise to earmark $244.1 million for improving trade between Canada and countries in the region.

While no specific targets or benchmarks are included in the strategy, and questions remain over how effectively the dollars will be spent, the heightened focus on the region is being celebrated by agriculture groups in Canada.

Don’t have a cow: Senator’s legen-dairy speech draws metaphor from bovine caper

OTTAWA - Haven't you herd? A dramatic tale of 20 escaped cows, nine cowboys and a drone recently unfolded in St-Sévère, Que., and it behooved a Canadian senator to milk it for all it was worth.

Prompting priceless reactions of surprise from her colleagues, Sen. Julie Miville-Dechêne recounted the story of the bovine fugitives in the Senate chamber this week — and attempted to make a moo-ving point about politics.

"Honourable senators, usually, when we do tributes here, it is to recognize the achievements of our fellow citizens," Miville-Dechêne began in French, having chosen to wear a white blouse with black spots for the occasion.

"However, today, I want to express my amused admiration for a remarkably determined herd of cows."

Mounties in southern Alberta help owner round up ostriches that escaped from a pen

TABER, Alta. - RCMP in southern Alberta had an unusual chase this morning after 20 ostriches escaped their pen.

Mounties say in a statement that they started receiving reports just before 8 a.m. about the birds on the road near Taber, Alta.

They say one of the 20 ostriches was hit and killed on the road.

With the help of the farmer, officers were able to locate and capture most of the other loose birds.

Seven commercial poultry flocks in B.C.’s Fraser Valley have bird flu: ministry

VICTORIA - Seven commercial poultry farms in British Columbia's Fraser Valley have been quarantined because they've tested positive for a highly infectious avian flu.

A statement from the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture says the farms tested positive between Nov. 16 and Nov. 19.

Six of the farms are in Abbotsford and one is in Chilliwack, in the Fraser Valley, the same area where more than 17 million birds were culled in 2004 when avian flu swept through numerous farms.

The ministry says producers within a 10-kilometre radius have been notified and all infected farms have been placed under quarantine by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Bird flu fighters in B.C. face unprecedented challenge, as H5N1 spread across Canada

VANCOUVER - By some measures, the ongoing outbreaks of avian flu in British Columbia pale when compared to the devastating eruption of the disease in 2004 that prompted a cull of 17 million birds.

But the enemy that farmers and scientists now face represents an unprecedented challenge, experts say.

The current H5N1 strain is "behaving very differently" to previous versions, says British Columbia chief veterinarian Theresa Burns.

Unlike previous strains that were isolated in geography, the new threat is spreading across the country. The strain is highly pathogenic and can cause serious disease and death in birds.

Aurora Cannabis reports Q1 net loss of $51.9M as consumer pot net revenues fall 28%

EDMONTON - Aurora Cannabis Inc. recorded a $51.9 million net loss in its most recent quarter as its consumer pot net revenue fell 28 per cent from a year ago.

The Edmonton cannabis company says its first-quarter performance compared with a net loss of $11.9 million for the same period in the prior year.

Its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization for the period ended Sept. 30 totalled $8.7 million compared with $11 million a year ago.

The company says its consumer cannabis net revenue amounted to $13.7 million, up from $12.6 million in its prior quarter, but down from $19.1 million in the first quarter of last year.

Fertilizer giant Nutrien sticking to plan to boost production; potash sales slump

CALGARY - Nutrien Ltd. is sticking to its plan to increase potash production, even as the Saskatoon-based fertilizer giant cut its full-year guidance for 2022 due to slumping potash sales volumes in the second half of this year.

The company — which is the largest fertilizer producer in the world — saw its share price tumble Thursday after releasing its third-quarter financial results after the close of markets on Wednesday.

By mid-day Thursday, Nutrien's shares were down more than 13 per cent to $98.65 on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Investors appeared to be spooked by the company's announcement that it is lowering its full-year adjusted earnings forecast from the previously stated range of US$14 billion to US$15.5 billion, to a new range of US$12.2 billion to US$13.2 billion.

Nutrien also lowered its full-year guidance for 2022 potash sales to 12.5 to 12.9 billion tonnes, down from a previously announced range of 14.3 to 14.9 billion.

Wheat futures jump as Russia pulls out of Black Sea agreement

CALGARY - Wheat prices spiked on Monday as Russia's withdrawal from the UN-brokered Black Sea grain agreement over the weekend ignited fresh fears about global food security.

But experts say it's too early to know whether the price increase is a short-term market reaction, or the start of a longer, more sustained trend toward higher grain prices.

"Definitely the prospect of seeing more disruptions on the supply of grain and oilseeds coming out of Ukraine is putting a little pressure on prices right away," said J.P. Gervais, vice-president and chief agricultural economist at Farm Credit Canada.

"And if markets get a sense this is going to be an issue in the mid to long-term, we might see prices move up again. But I think it’s a bit too early to tell.”

Moe touts Saskatchewan role in global energy, food security during business speech

SASKATOON - Premier Scott Moe touted Saskatchewan’s economic prosperity driven by windfall resource revenues in a speech to business leaders while also signalling the federal government would remain a main focus for the Saskatchewan Party in the upcoming legislative session.

"There is a strong tailwind that's pushing this province forward in a world where the paramount concern is energy security and, ultimately, food security," Moe said Monday at a luncheon hosted by the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce.

Moe's comments come ahead of Wednesday’s speech from the throne, when the Saskatchewan Party government is to lay out its agenda as it predicts a balanced budget for the fiscal year.

Russia's war in Ukraine has left global markets with dwindling supplies and skyrocketing prices. It has resulted in surging revenues and expectations of increased production for Saskatchewan's potash, uranium and agriculture industries.

‘Saviour for the world:’ Saskatchewan fills resource gaps caused by war in Ukraine

SASKATOON - Cameco Corp. is in a position to grow, the president of the Saskatoon-based Uranium giant recently told investors, because a “geopolitical crisis has hit our market” with Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Tim Gitzel was speaking earlier this month after the company announced it had partnered with Brookfield Renewable Partners to acquire Westinghouse Electric, a nuclear power plant equipment maker.

Cameco, one of the world’s largest uranium companies, said the deal would provide an opportunity to get new business in countries traditionally served by Russia.

“With Russia’s actions in Ukraine, we now have a western world that’s grappling with its dependence on this source of fuel and is looking to procure western sources of enrichment, conversion, uranium and, of course, western sources of fabricated fuel,” Gitzel said.

Drought, lack of rain and wildfires by the numbers in B.C.

VANCOUVER - British Columbia should be well into its rainy season, but hot and dry weather that lasted through most of October has created drought conditions. Here are some of the numbers connected with the drought:

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Recorded rainfall between July and Oct. 21, compared with average rainfall:

Vancouver: current 16 mm, average 198 mm