Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $3-$4 on either side of unchanged. Southern Alberta experienced severe wind and dust storms last week which softened buying interest from a large portion of feedlot operators. At the same time, grass conditions are quite variable across the Prairies despite the recent precipitation. Cooler temperatures […] Read more
Klassen: Adverse weather tempers feeder cattle market
Four farm groups join Team Alberta
Reading Time: < 1 minute Four farm groups have joined the province’s big crop commissions under the Team Alberta umbrella. Alberta Sugar Beet Growers, Potato Growers of Alberta, Alberta Seed Growers and the Alberta Beekeepers have joined the four founding members, the wheat, barley, canola and pulse commissions. The idea behind the 2015 creation of Team Alberta is “that working […] Read more
Drought fears, fertilizer may affect Canadian acreage estimates
MarketsFarm — Traders and analysts awaiting Statistics Canada’s first survey-based acreage report for the 2022-23 crop year on Tuesday believe competition amongst crops — as well as their dependence on fertilizer, and the possibility of another drought this summer — will be determining factors. Canola stands as the best representation of traders’ concerns. Despite reaching […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: U.S. corn imports getting expensive
MarketsFarm — As barley and wheat supplies for feed remain tight, demand for corn imports from the U.S. remains strong — but a rally in corn over the last couple of weeks is putting strain on the market, according to Brandon Motz of CorNine Commodities at Lacombe, Alta. “It is definitely deterring sales and/or purchases […] Read more
Klassen: Yearling prices soften but calves drop sharply
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices unchanged to $4 lower on average while calves were down $4 to as much as $8 in some cases. The steer-heifer spread appeared to widen by $2-$3 for yearlings and $3-$6 for calves. Adverse weather set a negative tone and the market appeared to incorporate a risk […] Read more
Farming behind the lines: Ukraine’s farmers sow amidst wreckage
Despite their best efforts, however, famine looms as war rages
In early April, Ukrainian soldiers expelled the Russian invaders from the northern regions of Ukraine: Kyiv, Chernihiv and Sumy regions. The wounded enemy left, leaving behind burned-out war machines and the unburied corpses of his soldiers. However, the invaders managed to do a lot of damage. Many of you are probably aware of the atrocities […] Read more
Ukraine grain storage shortage adds to farmers’ woes
Zurich | Reuters — Ukraine has insufficient storage capacity even for its reduced 2022 grain harvest, the United Nations’ World Food Programme said Tuesday, with the country struggling to export existing stocks during the invasion by Russia. Jakob Kern, the World Food Programme’s emergency co-ordinator in Ukraine, cited estimates that 20 per cent of planted […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Market stagnant as U.S. corn imports continue
MarketsFarm — Feed grain markets in Western Canada are holding relatively steady for the time being, as end-users are well covered with corn imports from the United States. “It seems like most buyers have managed to cover themselves well into June with corn,” said Susanne Leclerc, owner of Market Master Ltd. in Edmonton, adding that […] Read more
This hidden crop menace is stealthy, destructive and a devil to get rid of
There’s a wide variety of wireworms, their impact varies greatly, and there’s no effective control
Reading Time: 4 minutes Joe Ripley knew something was up in his wheat field — but he had no idea what. “We just had patches where it was very poor quality and there was hardly anything there,” said the grain and cattle producer from the Spring Coulee area in southern Alberta. “We didn’t realize what it was for a […] Read more
Farmers’ CWB class action lawsuit gets certified
Suit claims federal government wrongly used farmers' money to help privatize the Wheat Board
A class action lawsuit alleging the government of Canada and G3 Canada Ltd. unlawfully used millions of farmer dollars to privatize the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) has been certified after wending its way through the courts for 10 years. Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Chris Martin delivered his written judgment Tuesday in Winnipeg, clearing the […] Read more
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