Three of the five strips where no PGR was applied (outlined in black) showed a considerable amount of severe lodging.

Trial examines plant growth regulators under real-life conditions

There was a reduction in lodging but PGR effectiveness depends on the product, variety and location

Reading Time: 4 minutes Do plant growth regulators reduce lodging in wheat? They had an impact, but not a huge one, in an on-farm field trial done under the Plot2Farm program this year. “What we’ve seen is that they are not a silver bullet when it comes to lodging,” said Jeremy Boychyn, agronomy research extension manager for Alberta Barley […] Read more

A November photo from Waterloo Brewing’s company blog promoting its “apple crumble porter” from its 2022 Signature Series Winter Collection. (WaterlooBrewing.com)

Carlsberg to buy Ontario’s Waterloo Brewing

Danish brewing giant paying $144 million to scale up Canadian business

One of the world’s biggest beer companies is moving to expand its brewing capacity on Canadian soil with a $144 million deal for Kitchener-based Waterloo Brewing. Carlsberg Group on Wednesday announced an all-cash deal worth $4 per share for all shares of Waterloo Brewing, which bills itself as the largest Canadian-owned brewery in Ontario and […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

AAFC raises canola stocks projection, despite smaller crop

Department also trims wheat ending stocks

MarketsFarm — Canadian canola ending stocks for 2022-23 were revised higher by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in its latest supply/demand estimates, released Friday. The larger carryout projection came despite a downward revision to production, as both exports and domestic usage were also down from the November report. The government agency now sees canola carryout of […] Read more

There are always a lot of folks willing to help harvest the growing project of the Taber Foodgrains Project. In fact, there’s a waiting list.

Once again, supporters of growing projects are making a difference

Reading Time: 4 minutes Just keeping track of the offers of help would likely keep the eight members of the Taber Foodgrains Project’s organizing committee busy. “There’s probably close to 100 organizations that help out in some way, shape or form,” said Jeremy Wind, the group’s chair. “We had no challenges getting people to help out. There’s always a […] Read more



Saying there are no pesticide runoff problems and proving it are two different things. But extensive and independent testing and lab analysis found pesticide residues were well below prescribed limits.

Getting the facts on pesticide residues

Independent testing gives 15 watersheds a clean bill of health for pesticide concentrations

Reading Time: 5 minutes Alberta farm groups have done their homework to prove that farmers are good stewards of the province’s watersheds. Using an independent testing company and lab, the project extensively sampled 15 watersheds in central and southern Alberta for a panel of 129 pesticides. No instances of pesticide residues above prescribed limits were found. Team Alberta Crops, […] Read more


Last separate elections for cereal groups

Last separate elections for cereal groups

Reading Time: < 1 minute In their last go-round before a full merger, Alberta Wheat and Alberta Barley have largely filled director spots but still need a number of regional reps. Three directors were acclaimed to the board of Alberta Wheat: Dean Hubbard of Claresholm in Region 1 along with Greg Sears of Sexsmith and David Bartlett of Fairview in […] Read more

“I would encourage producers who plan to grow barley in 2023 to consider a new malt variety if they have not already.” – Peter Watts.

The old guard in malt barley is starting to give way

Two up-and-comers top the recommended list from the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre

Reading Time: 3 minutes The short list of recommended malt barley varieties is even shorter this year and a familiar name is missing. There are only four on this year’s list of varieties recommended by the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre. “At the top of the list this year are two of Canada’s newer varieties, AAC Connect and CDC […] Read more


CBOT March 2023 oats with 20- and 50-day moving averages. (Barchart)

Feed weekly outlook: Wheat, barley eschewed for other grains

Oats, corn finding demand as feed

MarketsFarm — Feed wheat and barley prices in Alberta’s feedlot alley are coming down, largely due to the increasing presence of corn imported from the U.S. The high-delivered bid for Alberta feed barley on Wednesday was $9.80 per bushel, 11 cents lower than the previous week and 22 cents lower than one month earlier, according […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder cattle market experiences diverse price behaviour

Manitoba calves hold a premium over Sask., Alta.

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded steady to $2 higher while calf prices were unchanged to $4 lower. Yearling supplies are limited and there appeared to be a surge of buying interest for 850-lb. thin-fleshed replacements. Alberta fed cattle basis levels for the second quarter of 2023 have above average and the […] Read more