File photo of a federal office building in downtown Winnipeg. (Dave Bedard photo)

AAFC projecting canola ending stocks to tighten

New-crop wheat ending stocks figure boosted

MarketsFarm — Canadian canola ending stocks in both the current marketing year and upcoming 2023-24 season will be tighter than earlier estimates, according to supply/demand projections from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) on Tuesday. Factoring in Statistics Canada’s latest acreage estimates and its data for stocks as of March 31 — figures both released in […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Barley market steady for now

Feedlots still importing U.S. corn

MarketsFarm — Feed barley bids in Western Canada continue to hold steady, while attention in the market turns to the new crop going into the ground. “There currently is an uptick in demand for quick movement presenting good opportunities for producers ready to sell,” Alberta grain brokerage Agfinity said in a note to clients. “However, […] Read more


Barley scholarship on offer 

Barley scholarship on offer 

Application deadline May 31

Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Barley will be giving out three $2,000 scholarships for students actively engaged in barley research.  Applicants need to send a one-page summary of their research project and how it “could be beneficial to barley producers and the industry.” Preference will be given to projects that align with the cereal group’s research priorities. For more […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Lower beef production forecast drives feeder market higher

Feedlots factoring in lower feed grain values

Compared to the week ending May 6, western Canadian yearling prices were $2-$4 higher while calf values were up $2 to as much as $8 on average. The feeder market was well bid across all weight categories. Demand for grass cattle appeared to be more aggressive this past week. Yearling supplies will decrease over the […] Read more


“The fundamental rule is no matter how you use the funds, you still have to repay your cash advance as you sell your inventory.” – Dave Gallant.

Cash advance applications soar along with interest rate

With the interest-free portion being upped to $350,000, producers would save thousands — or even invest it

Reading Time: 5 minutes There’s been a surge in the number of farmers seeking cash advances thanks to soaring interest rates and a big increase in the interest-free portion of the loan. And the deal might even be tempting farmers who don’t need an operating loan. On April 3, the opening day of the 2023 program, the Canadian Canola […] Read more

File photo of a barley seedling. (SusanHSmith/iStock/Getty Images)

Feed weekly outlook: Short-term premiums add to fluctuations

Truckers seen trying to stay as local as possible

MarketsFarm — Although most feed grain buyers were fairly well covered through spring seeding, Susanne Leclerc of Market Master Ltd. at Edmonton said some were looking for feed to get through the coming weeks and offered premiums. “Which is a shock for seeding season,” she said, suggesting it’s best to shop around, with prices fluctuating […] Read more


Dave Sammons says he’s seen more organic matter in the fields where he’s used corn grazing over the past decade.

Unique year-round grazing method pays major dividends

Constant searching for new grazing ideas has led Dave Sammons to a strategy that works

Reading Time: 3 minutes Cow-calf producer Dave Sammons has come up with a unique and varied grazing strategy that has cut his workload and feed bills while boosting organic matter. His system on his mixed farm near Gleichen includes stubble grazing into early winter, then moving the herd onto cover crops, and then onto corn. “The grazing has helped […] Read more

Tom Steve, Syeda Khurram and Hasan Kazmi (on right) pictured at the Western Canadian Crop Production Show in Saskatoon in January 2022. The trio were abruptly dismissed late last month and Alberta Wheat and Alberta Barley refuse to say anything about the removal of the senior management team.

Silence follows in wake of ouster of farm groups’ senior managers

Tom Steve was highly regarded in the grain sector but was abruptly dismissed with no reasons given

Reading Time: 3 minutes The board directors of Alberta Wheat and Alberta Barley are staying mum on why they abruptly ousted Tom Steve, their highly regarded general manager. Steve, chief operating officer Syeda Khurram and FarmCash program manager Hasan Kazmi were all dismissed on April 26. The two cereal groups didn’t announce the dismissals, and when the news broke […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

Latest StatCan stocks report ‘least important of them all’

Wheat, canola numbers not expected to have significant impact on markets

MarketsFarm — For MarketsFarm Pro analyst Mike Jubinville, there was little in the latest Statistics Canada (StatCan) grain stocks report that would budge the markets. “When I look at the run of StatCan reports that we get through the year, whether they’re acreage, production or ending stocks, this report in May is the least important […] Read more

This winter rye field on John Kolk’s property has been strip-tilled in preparation for planting canola.

STRIP TILL: It’s new, it’s tricky and you can’t ask the neighbours for advice

On paper, strip-till is an excellent way to reduce erosion and improve soil health, but there’s a learning curve

Reading Time: 4 minutes Being a pioneer isn’t easy, but sometimes it can pay off. Or at least that’s what John Kolk hopes. Over the past few years the southern Alberta farmer has been using strip tillage on row crops such as dry beans, corn and soybeans. Although the system hasn’t been a big earner in terms of dollars […] Read more