Reading Time: 4 minutes Dairy farmers Dieter Gagelmans and Geoff Volkman decided to take the plunge into cover crops last year for a simple reason — to improve the farm’s productivity Gagelmans, originally from Belgium, is taking over Volkman’s farm in a non-familial succession. “I knew I was going to take on tremendous debt and the only way to […] Read more
Dairy farmers explore new path forward with cover crops
Taking the plunge can be scary but there are multiple benefits that can be gained, they say
Klassen: Alberta yearling market makes fresh 52-week high
The western Canadian feeder cattle market is in price discovery mode. There was a light test of yearlings and calves this past week, with prices setting fresh 52-week highs. New-crop supplies of grass cattle are coming on the market from drier pockets of Alberta. At the same time, regular feedlot backgrounded replacements are trading at […] Read more
Saskatchewan Crop Report: Harvest kicks off in Saskatchewan
MarketsFarm – As the calendar turned to August, some combining has already started in Saskatchewan according to the province’s weekly crop report. For the week ended Aug. 1, the harvest has started for a select number of crops mostly located in the west-central and southwest regions. So far, one per cent of the province’s dry […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Recent storms not hurting yields
MarketsFarm – Recent bouts of severe weather in Alberta, most recently high winds and hail in the central region on Aug. 2, will not affect potential yields for feed grains, according to one trader. Mike Fleischhauer of Eagle Commodities Ltd. in Lethbridge said while some crops were damaged from the storms in central Alberta, as […] Read more
Manitoba crops variable: report
MarketsFarm – Crop development was highly variable across Manitoba during the week ended Aug. 2 depending on localized rainfall and drainage, with fields in the southern growing areas of the province generally better than those to the north, according to the latest report from Manitoba Agriculture. Localized insect concerns were reported, with some spraying required. […] Read more
Klassen: Light test of feeder cattle reflects hot demand
Compared to last week, Western Canadian yearling prices were relatively unchanged; prices for mid-weight calves were $2 to $5 higher. Calves under 550 pounds were up $6 to $8 on average while feather light bawlers were up a sold $10 above week-ago levels. Weaker feed grain prices along with strength in the deferred live cattle […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Declining prices not raising buyers’ interest
MarketsFarm – Despite prices for Western Canadian feed barley and wheat continuing to decline, buyers are not opening their wallets just yet. Erin Harakal, trade manager for Agfinity Inc. in Stony Plain, Alta., said while growing prospects of a more typical harvest are making cereal crops more affordable, there is still a wait-and-see attitude from […] Read more
Is a return of ‘grain gridlock’ in the cards?
Grain movement was slow last winter but CN and CP say they’ll be ready to move this fall’s harvest
Reading Time: 4 minutes Fears are mounting that CN and CP may not be up to the job of getting grain to port later this year, even though the forecasts are for only an average-sized crop. “Last year wasn’t very reassuring,” said Geoff Backman, manager of business development and markets with Alberta Wheat and Barley. “Every year farmers are […] Read more
Fungal diseases posing an issue with Manitoba crops
As crop conditions vary across Manitoba, the latest crop report noted that frequent rains and warm temperatures have increased the risk of a number of fungal diseases. Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development (MARD) said farmers continued to apply fungicides on their wheat, oats, barley, canola, and pea crops. However, wet conditions in a number of […] Read more
Rains were welcome but bring increased threat of crop diseases
There are host of factors to consider before spraying but get out in the field and look closely, says expert
Reading Time: 4 minutes Recent rainfall means farmers need to scout their crops and make decisions about spraying. “Certainly the rain that we’ve had would get things going,” said Kelly Turkington, a plant pathologist at Agriculture Canada’s Lacombe research station. For example, leaf spot diseases in barley and wheat can quickly flare up, he said on July 13. “Within […] Read more
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