Sydney/Beijing | Reuters — Australia has reached an agreement with China to resolve their dispute over barley imports, the two countries said on Tuesday, a latest sign of improving ties between the major commodity trade partners. Relations between the two had been strained for years, and worsened after Australia called for an inquiry into the […] Read more
Australia reaches deal with China in barley dispute
Trade shift may be 'bad news' for Canada and other exporters
Klassen: Demand surges for grass cattle
Barley, corn expected to be cheaper next fall
Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $3-$4 on either side of unchanged. Certain auction markets did not have sales due to the shortened holiday week. Adverse weather also shuttered some sales on Wednesday and Thursday in the eastern Prairie region. Southern Alberta feedlots are contending with poor pen conditions which may […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Barley prices still historically high, but face headwinds
Bulk corn delivery remains more convenient
MarketsFarm — Feed barley bids in Western Canada remain historically strong, despite easing off their highs over the past month and trending lower. With bids of around $410 per tonne into the Lethbridge feedlot alley, feed barley “is still a sell,” according to Mike Jubinville of MarketsFarm, speaking on a webinar. However, he noted there […] Read more
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
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
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
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
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
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
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