By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Roundup for Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Apr 18, 2023 | 1:46 PM

Third-generation Alberta farmer Greg Sears described the last 24 months in Canadian agriculture as a roller-coaster ride.

In 2021, farmers were hit with severe drought that withered crops across Western Canada, then last year the war in Ukraine drove grain and oilseed prices to record highs.

Inflation led to dramatic spikes in the cost of everything from fertilizer to fuel to tractor tires, leading some in the industry to dub 2022 as the most expensive crop year in history.

Sears is hoping 2023 is a normal crop year for his Grande Prairie farm.

Edward Jones analyst Steve Hansen has said most indications suggest farmers are going to hit the fields hard this year, with planted acreage expected to be a near record.

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He has predicted Canadian farmers could deliver a top five harvest this fall if everything goes well.

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Toromont Industries has entered into an agreement to sell its AgWest farm equipment dealerships in Manitoba to Netherlands-based company Mechan International.

AgWest has its head office in Elie, Manitoba, with dealerships in Brandon, Neepawa, and Morden. There are also parts depots in Russell, Steinbach, and Swan River.

The Manitoba dealerships will continue operating under the AgWest name, with the current locations, leadership team, and employees.

The deal takes effect May 1. Terms were not disclosed.

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The Federal Court of Canada has dismissed an application for a judicial review of decisions made regarding potato wart.

The Prince Edward Island Potato Board challenged decisions by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the federal agriculture minister after the fungal disease was found on two separate farms in fall 2021.

The U.S. government advised it wouldn’t accept seed potatoes from the province, and Ottawa issued a ministerial order to restrict the movement of potatoes domestically and internationally.

The potato board said the two farms were already part of the long-term management plan for potato wart.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW