Reading Time: 4 minutes With all the decisions that must be made in a growing season, on-farm research trials are a way for farmers to increase the odds of making the right call on major changes. “When you do something yourself on your own farm, you can be pretty certain it will work in your conditions,” said Lewis Baarda, […] Read more

They don’t wear lab coats but more farmers doing on-farm research
Getting scientifically valid data takes time and work -- and often at the busiest times of the year

Klassen: Tighter fundamentals support feeder complex
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were steady to $2 higher on average while calf markets were up $2-$4. There was an increase in activity over the past week, although many auction barns remain in holiday mode. Major feedlot operators in southern Alberta were extremely aggressive on yearlings fresh off grass and this […] Read more

Denmark’s Royal Unibrew to buy Toronto’s Amsterdam Brewery
Brewer seeks new capacity in North America
Corrected, July 18 — Copenhagen | Reuters –– Danish brewer and beverage maker Royal Unibrew will acquire Toronto craft brewer Amsterdam Brewery in a deal valued at around 250 million Danish crowns (C$44 million), Royal Unibrew said in a statement on Friday. “The acquisition we are doing today is very important for the future growth […] Read more

Feed weekly outlook: Grains under pressure awaiting new crop
Farmers 'digging in and being patient'
MarketsFarm — Feed grain bids in Western Canada continue to come under pressure, as feedlots chew through corn imports from the United States and wait on the new-crop harvest. “We’re certainly seeing things soften,” said grain trader Shaun Smith of Market Place Commodities in Lethbridge. Declines in the Chicago futures and good Prairie growing conditions […] Read more

Larger U.S. barley crop expected in 2022
MarketsFarm — Barley production in the U.S. is forecast to be up substantially in 2022, with early indications pointing to the largest crop in seven years. In its latest production estimates, the U.S. Department of Agriculture forecast the country’s 2022 barley crop at 3.8 million tonnes, which would be up from the 2.6 million tonnes […] Read more

Cereal groups merger heads to a vote
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta wheat and barley farmers will vote on a proposed merger of the two crop commissions this fall. “Farmers can expect plebiscite information to come to their mailbox this fall, although voting in the plebiscites will be conducted online,” an article in the most recent Grain Exchange newsletter states. Provincial rules require separate plebiscites for […] Read more

Klassen: Feeder cattle market adjusts for lower barley prices
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices climbed $2-$4 on average. Calf markets were unchanged. For the second week in a row, the market was hard to define due to limited numbers on offer. Small packages under five head and single stragglers were common. Larger groups of green thin yearlings were well bid by […] Read more

Feed weekly outlook: Grain prices coming down
MarketsFarm — As futures prices fall back, those for feed have been following, according to Jenny Redshaw, a trader with Agfinity at Stony Plain, Alta. “There are lots of things going on,” she said, noting demand has been somewhat lacklustre. “The feedlots aren’t breaking down any doors,” she added. With prices down across the board […] Read more

Klassen: Feeder cattle trade at 52-week highs
New-crop feed grain values under pressure
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearlings traded steady to $2 higher with exceptional demand noted on steers over 700 pounds. Calf values were mixed in Alberta with markets trading $2-$4 on either side of unchanged; however, prices were steady to $4 higher in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Small groups of various quality characterized the feeder […] Read more

Crop conditions in Alberta see remarkable turnaround
MarketsFarm – As the heydays of summer approach, Alberta reported that its crops were in good shape. The crop report placed all crops in the province at 75 per cent good to excellent, slightly above the five-year average. The rains throughout June were credited with the turnaround, but overall growth and development remained somewhat behind […] Read more