(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Stronger barley prices limit upside for feeder cattle complex

Feedlot operators make barley purchases, price feeder cattle accordingly

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $2 higher to as much as $5 lower. A softer tone was noted on yearlings in the eastern Prairie regions. Calf prices were steady to $4 lower on average compared to seven days earlier. Quality yearling packages fresh off grass held value but backgrounded heavier replacements […] Read more



Plenty of ways to serve cereal groups

Plenty of ways to serve cereal groups

Reading Time: < 1 minute Nominations are now open for director and regional rep positions with Alberta Wheat and Alberta Barley. Alberta Wheat needs two directors and three representatives in both Region 1 (southern Alberta) and Region 5 (north-central). Meanwhile Alberta Barley is seeking director candidates for Regions 3 and 4 as well as a director-at-large from either Regions 1, […] Read more

Barley. (Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Barley values steady, wheat rises

MarketsFarm — As the harvest across most of the Prairies begins to wind down, price movement for feed barley has remained fairly stable, according to Erin Harakal, senior trader for Agfinity at Stony Plain, Alta. “October is getting covered is what’s happening. There’s not too much room left for October,” Harakal said, noting the midway […] Read more


New guide on managing straw

New guide on managing straw

Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta’s cereal groups along with their prairie counterparts have created a straw management guide. The six-page primer covers nutrient content, how nutrients are released, the value of organic matter, and methods for managing excess straw and residue. The nutrient portion of the guide looks at how much nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur is typically found […] Read more

Fields with higher soil organic matter are more resilient during drought, and since dry conditions result in half of crop insurance payouts, it’s worth considering whether organic matter should be a factor when calculating premiums, says Stuart Chutter, a product coordinator with Agriculture Financial Services Corporation.

Should soil organic matter be a factor in insurance premiums?

Research, including a study here, has found higher organic matter reduces drought impact

Reading Time: 4 minutes Farmers may one day see lower crop insurance premiums if they have high levels of organic matter in their soil. A study by the Agriculture Financial Services Corporation found that farms with higher soil organic matter have better yields and lower crop insurance claims. In the region between Edmonton and Red Deer, AFSC researchers divided fields according […] Read more


Photo: Canada Beef Inc.

Klassen: Demand fears cause feeder cattle market volatility

Barley values continue upward

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $4 higher to as much as $6 lower. Strength was noted in the eastern Prairie regions while the market was softer in Alberta. Western Canadian calves were extremely volatile, trading $5 higher to as much as $10 lower in some cases. It’s not uncommon for markets […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Prairie barley market still strong

Availability of trucks remains an issue

MarketsFarm — The feed barley market remains strong despite the influx of freshly harvested supplies, with little competition from other feed sources. “The markets have been coming up steadily, with what feels like no harvest pressure,” said Suzanne Leclerc, owner of Market Master Ltd. in Edmonton. “People were hoping the market would get lower and […] Read more


Wheat in progress west of Pathlow, Sask. on Aug. 1, 2022. (Dave Bedard photo)

Feed weekly outlook: Good grain yields seen in Saskatchewan, Manitoba

MarketsFarm — Despite delays in the ongoing barley and wheat harvests across the eastern Prairies, early indications have suggested healthy amounts of grain production. “Eastern Saskatchewan and Manitoba still have a bit of harvest to go, but generally the yields are good,” Glen Loyns, general manager of JGL Commodities at Moose Jaw, Sask., said. “Quality […] Read more

Harvest sample program now open

Harvest sample program now open

Reading Time: < 1 minute The Canadian Grain Commission harvest sample program is now open. The free program gives producers a host of info that can be used when marketing or delivering grain.  This includes an unofficial grade; dockage for canola; protein content for cereals and pulses; oil, protein and chlorophyll content for canola; falling number for wheat and rye; […] Read more