U of S "Market Prospects" program continues in 2007

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

For over 20 years, the University of Saskatchewan�s Market Prospects program, shown on CTV's Farmgate, has been helping producers make critical decisions in their farming operations.

The series will be going strong again throughout 2007, with its annual market analysis and forecasts for livestock, grains, oilseeds and specialty crops featured every Saturday through to April 21.

Market Prospects delivers timely commodity market and outlook information to people in the agricultural sector prior to spring planting.� Interviews with leading experts inform producers about changing conditions that will influence production levels and prices of major Saskatchewan crops in the coming year. Analysts also provide specific price forecasts for individual crops.

Dr. Larry Gutek, the Manager of the Crop Business Section of Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food (SAF), says the program can be especially valuable to farmers as their businesses become increasingly complex and technical.

Farming is a challenging occupation. Producers are forced to constantly expand their knowledge base and their understanding of major issues that affect the sustainability of agricultural production and marketing,� Gutek said.

That's where a feature like Market Prospects can be most beneficial, in helping producers stay up-to-date and learning what the leading industry experts are anticipating as they make important decisions for the coming crop year on their farms.

The series is co-ordinated by the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Saskatchewan, in co-operation with CTV. The lineup for the remainder of 2007 focuses on many areas of importance to the overall agricultural industry and individual farm operations. Among the topics that will be featured are: the U.S. perspective on various crops; the world oilseed outlook; developments in organic agriculture and marketing challenges; approaches to addressing labour shortages in the industry; agriculture and the environment; CWB crops; pulse crops; canola and flaxseed; special crops such as mustard, canary seed and others; and oats, hulless barley, winter wheat and triticale.

Market Prospects 2007 receives financial support from the federal Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food Saskatchewan (ACAAFS) program, SAF, the Canadian Wheat Board, the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission, the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, and the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers.

It is estimated that more than 75,000 viewers in the province watch the show each week, and it is also available across Canada through satellite television.

Gutek says that producers who want to keep informed on market outlooks and key policy issues in 2007 should be sure to tune in. There's something for all prairie farmers and anyone else interested in the agricultural industry, he noted.

More information on the program can be obtained on the Market Prospects website at www.marketprospects.usask.ca or by calling the SAF Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377.

For more information, contact:
Dr. Larry Gutek, Manager, Crop Business Section
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Phone: (306) 933-5568
E-mail: lgutek@agr.gov.sk.ca