Photo: File

Feed weekly outlook: Futures pressure Canadian prices

Some buyers still seeking coverage

MarketsFarm — Prices for feed grains in Western Canada continue to ease off, but seasonal activity isn’t the only reason contributing to the declines. Erin Harakal, trade manager at Agfinity Inc. at Stony Plain, Alta., said futures markets are also playing their part in pressuring feed grain prices. “Especially with the wheat markets due to […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder cattle supplies remain snug

Feedlots expect significantly cheaper barley come harvest

Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $3-$4 on either side of unchanged. Premium low-flesh yearlings were one off bids $15-$20 above average. Cattle buyers commented that there were larger volumes of fleshier yearlings. Cattle with heavier butter levels were discounted from our listed values by $5 to as much as $10. […] Read more


Pictured left to right: Tom Steve, Syeda Khurram and Hasan Kazmi.

Three senior executives out at Alberta wheat & barley commissions

Move comes as groups work towards August 1 amalgamation target

Reading Time: 2 minutes Two of Alberta’s largest farm groups have seen an abrupt change in leadership. It’s reported that three individuals have left the senior leadership team of the Alberta Wheat Commission and the Alberta Barley Commission.  General manager Tom Steve, COO Syeda Khurram and cash advance program manager Hasan Kazmi are reported to have left effective April […] Read more

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

Feed weekly outlook: Grain area to increase this year

Oats area expected to be reduced

MarketsFarm — Early signs point to increased Canadian feed grain production in 2023-24, with record corn acreage intentions and increases in both barley and wheat area on the year, according to the latest estimates from Statistics Canada. Planted corn area in the country is forecast at 3.725 million acres in 2023, which would be up […] Read more


File photo of wheat seedlings. (Volodymyr Shtun/iStock/Getty Images)

StatCan expects more wheat, canola acres in 2023

Corn, soy, barley acres also expected up

MarketsFarm — Canadian farmers intend to plant more wheat and canola in 2023, with soybeans, corn and barley area also forecast to expand, according to Statistics Canada’s projections for field crop area. The increases in those crops will come at the expense of oats, lentils and peas, with intended summerfallow area down to its smallest […] Read more

Photo: Greg Berg

Analysts expect additional acres for canola, wheat

StatCan estimates due out Wednesday

MarketsFarm — If traders and analysts are correct with their estimates, there will be slightly more wheat and canola acres seeded in Canada this year compared to 2022. Statistics Canada (StatCan) will release its first survey-based acreage estimates for the 2023-24 marketing year on April 26. Other than drier and cooler conditions in southern Manitoba, […] Read more


An adult lygus bug. (Photo courtesy Canola Council of Canada)

Matador, Voliam insecticides back in ‘limited’ release

Revised labels prohibit feeding, foraging of treated crops

Syngenta Canada no longer plans to keep its lambda-cyhalothrin insecticide products off the market in Western Canada this year — but it’s planning to have a smaller supply. The crop chem and seed company announced Friday it will have a “limited amount” of its lambda-cy-based products Matador 120EC and Voliam Xpress available in the West […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Quiet times appear to be ahead

Significant weather event would maybe move prices

MarketsFarm — As feed grain prices on the Canadian Prairies remain relatively stable, the market appear to be “moving to a quiet summer,” according to Brandon Motz of CorNine Commodities at Lacombe, Alta. “Demand remains neutral to weak, and farmers are holding on to their grain that’s left in the bin,” Motz explained, noting feedlots […] Read more


“Any time you’ve got the provincial government telling us how much money we can make, then you know you have a problem.”

Usual suspects top the list in profitability forecast

But on many operations, the bottom line may depend heavily on when you bought fertilizer

Reading Time: 3 minutes Peas could rival or even beat canola and wheat as a money-maker this year, but oats are likely to be a big disappointment, according to this year’s provincial profitability forecast. The good news is that nearly every major crop in all five major soil zones is estimated to be a money maker, before fixed costs […] Read more

Provincial officials have calculated numbers for every major soil zone. But be forewarned — the cost of inputs is frighteningly high.

Highlights from this year’s crop forecast

There aren’t a lot of surprises but much of the forecast hinges on the cost of growing a crop

Reading Time: 2 minutes Want to hit a home run this year? Grow kabuli chickpeas. But only if you farm in the brown soil zone. That pulse crop holds the No. 1 spot in this year’s forecast from the provincial agriculture department with an anticipated profit (before fixed costs and rent) of $347 an acre — if there’s a […] Read more