AAFC Sees Farmers Adding Wheat and Oilseed Acres

By Elmer Heinrichs

Twice Baked Potatoes are a favourite of ours. I tried this recipe recently and will make it again.

Twice Baked Potatoes

2 large baking potatoes

4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed

2 slices cooked bacon, crumbled

¼ cup sour cream

¼ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided ¼ cup milk

½ teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

1 green onion thinly sliced

1/8 cup shredded or grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 425F. Scrub potato clean and then dry potato with paper towel. Stab each potato with a sharp paring knife 5 or 6 times. Place into preheated oven for 1 hour 15 minutes, or until a fork can easily pierce through the skin to the centre.

Remove the potatoes from the oven and let them rest until they cool enough to handle. Cut the top quarter off each potato. Scrape out most of the flesh of the potato leaving a thin layer of potato to help support the shell of the potato skin. Place the scooped-out potato in a medium size mixing bowl. Then place the potato skins on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil.

Reduce the oven temperature to 375F. Place the butter, bacon and sour cream into the mixing bowl with the insides of the potato. Using a potato masher, mash the mixture.

Add half of the shredded cheese, milk, seasoned salt, black pepper and half of the sliced green onion. Mix until well incorporated. Divide the mixture and fill the potato shells. Sprinkle the remaining cheese evenly over top of each filled potato half.

Bake the filled potatoes in the 375F oven for approximately twenty minutes or until the cheese is melted and turning light golden brown in colour.

Remove the potatoes from the oven and top the potatoes with the remaining sliced green onion and Parmesan cheese. Serve.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, in its February outlook for 2023-2024 says the area seeded to field crops in Canada is forecast to increase marginally from 2022-23, with wheat (excluding durum) and oilseeds area expected to increase, while area seeded to coarse grains and pulse and special crops is expected to decrease.

Total field crop production is projected to decline somewhat on a return to average yields. Carry-out stocks are expected to increase marginally as carry-in stocks and normal production levels lead to a slight increase in total supply, while exports and domestic use are expected to remain relatively unchanged.

In general, prices are expected to decrease but remain historically high, as world production and supplies increase and the Canadian dollar strengthens.

The outlook for the world’s grain markets continues to be uncertain and subject to heightened volatility due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which continues to disrupt Black Sea production and global trade patterns, along with concerns in regard to a global economic slow down.

For 2023-24, Canadian area seeded to wheat (excl. durum) is forecast to increase 4 per cent year-over-year to 8.2 million hectare (Mha). Yields are expected at trend levels, that is around 3.6 t/ha, and production to increase 2 per cent to 28.9 Mt, 10 per cent over average levels.

All eyes will be on the weather as the final determinant of prospects for 2023’s harvest. Drought has eased slightly across the US wheat belt, but the bulk of winter wheat, the most common type of wheat grown in the US, remains under watch.

For 2023-24, canola area is forecast to rise slightly, to 8.8 Mha, as support from attractive prices is offset by similarly attractive prices for alternate crops such as wheat and peas. Production is forecast at 18.5 Mt. For 2023-24, the area planted to soybeans is predicted to increase by 7 per cent to 2.28 Mha, creating a harvested area of 2.27 Mha.

Acres seeded to dry peas, lentils and dry beans are expected to be down this year.