File photo of an irrigated alfalfa stand in Saudi Arabia. (JohnnyGreig/E+/Getty Images)

Saudi Arabia highly dependent on grain imports

Alfalfa more profitable for domestic growers

MarketsFarm — While Saudi Arabia is a giant among the oil-producing countries of the world, the desert kingdom does produce small amounts of grain. With a population that’s about one million less than Canada’s, Saudi Arabia is extremely dependent on importing its grain from overseas. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) attaché in Riyadh explained […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Prices continue to soften as April approaches

Seeding start in Alberta remains a question mark

MarketsFarm — Corn is still moving into feedlots in southern Alberta as it approaches not only the end of its contracts, but also the end of winter. “We’ve been seeing here in Lethbridge prices at $395-$400 per tonne ($10.03-$10.16 per bushel),” said Erin Harakal, trade manager at Agfinity Inc. at Stony Plain, Alta. “It seems […] Read more


New funding for crop variety trials

New funding for crop variety trials

Reading Time: < 1 minute Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR), the Western Grains Research Foundation and the Alberta Oat Growers Commission have announced $782,400 in funding for Alberta Regional Variety Trials. RDAR’s contribution is for $582,300 over three years.  The trials are independently conducted on small test plots at multiple sites across Alberta. They compare the performance of newly registered […] Read more

Calculating the benefits of nitrogen fertilizer

Calculating the benefits of nitrogen fertilizer

Reading Time: < 1 minute The Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions have developed a calculator to estimate possible economic returns from nitrogen fertilizer. The N rate calculators are developed for spring wheat and feed barley, and are adapted to Black, Brown and Dark Brown soil zones. The grower can determine the N rate that brings the highest net return by […] Read more


Rapeseed field, canola crops

It’s time to order your Blue Book

Reading Time: < 1 minute Four of Alberta’s crop commissions — Alberta Barley, Alberta Canola, Alberta Pulse Growers, and the Alberta Wheat Commission — have launched the 2023 advance ordering system for Alberta’s Crop Protection Guide, otherwise known as the Blue Book. Alberta farmers, agronomists and agriculture retailers can get ahead of the busy growing season by placing their 2023 […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder market eyes feed grain complex

Downside expected in new-crop barley prices

Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded steady to $2 higher on average. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $353-$357/cwt delivered last week, up from the average price of $348/cwt delivered seven days earlier. Strength in the fed cattle market continues to support the […] Read more


Canada Malting’s processing plant in Montreal. (CanadaMalting.com)

France’s InVivo makes bid for United Malt

Bid would include Canada Malting business

Reuters — United Malt Group has received an indicative, non-binding offer from Malteries Soufflet, a branch of French agribusiness InVivo, the Australian commercial maltster said on Tuesday, valuing it at A$1.5 billion (C$1.36 billion). The A$5 per share offer represents a 45.3 per cent premium to United Malt’s last close of A$3.44. Trading in shares […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Domestic grain prices slipping

Prairie wheat, barley on par with U.S. corn

MarketsFarm – Feed wheat and barley prices in Western Canada have slowly trended lower over the past few months, with prices for both grains now on par with imported corn from the U.S. into Alberta’s key Lethbridge feedlot alley. All three grains are trading at around $410 per tonne into Lethbridge, according to Jim Beusekom, […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

Little change in barley acres expected

Malt barley prices mainly steady

MarketsFarm — As spring planting approaches, Peter Watt of the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre (CMBTC) said there likely won’t be a big shift in barley acres that will be planted in 2023. “Producers have made their [planting] decisions for the most part. You might see people adjust their plans a little bit based on […] Read more

Barley. (Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Grains wait for demand to pick up

Trucking availability still seen as an issue, but less of one

MarketsFarm — As feed barley continued to sit in a lull, there have been some increases in feed wheat, according to Brandon Motz of CorNine Commodities at Lacombe, Alta. “There’s a little of downward pressure on barley,” Motz said, noting demand for it is expected to soon pick up. Feed wheat prices have increased recently, […] Read more