Reading Time: < 1 minute After consulting with their elected reps, Alberta’s cereal commissions have refined their research strategies. And while increasing yield came out as the top priority, there was also recognition that genetics and agronomic measures contribute equally to boosting yields, agronomy research specialist Sheri Strydhorst said in a new web post. “Producers indicated a desire to increase […] Read more
Where should cereal research dollars go?
Feed weekly outlook: Low demand, fewer acres expected for cheaper feed barley
MarketsFarm — As corn became the primary feed grain at Alberta feedlots over the past few months, the demand for — and price of — feed barley have diminished over time. But according to one trader, this won’t mean demand will shift from corn to barley anytime soon. Evan Peterson of JGL Commodities in Saskatoon […] Read more
Cereal commissions offer new, and different, seeding rate calculator
The calculator targets seeds per square foot, not plants, while a new video looks at row spacing
Reading Time: 2 minutes Alberta Wheat and Alberta Barley have created a seeding rate calculator that has a significant difference from similar tools — it doesn’t require users to estimate emergence mortality. “Instead of targeting plants/ft2, this calculator targets seeds/ft2,” the cereal commissions say in an intro for the online tool. “Therefore, emergence mortality is not included in the […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Corn prices steady, growers watch weather
MarketsFarm — Days after a work stoppage at Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) came to an abrupt end, prices for corn have been relatively stable, according to one trader. Mike Fleischhauer of Eagle Commodities Ltd. in Lethbridge said there has been little price movement for the feed grain staple recently as most feedlots are already set […] Read more
Premiums soar after crop insurer hit by $2.7-billion loss
Higher crop prices are driving a big part of the 37 per cent (or higher) hike, but drought hit hard, too
Reading Time: 4 minutes The cost of annual crop insurance is soaring by an average of more than 37 per cent this year — and many farmers could be facing an even higher bill. “An average 1,500-acre Alberta farm growing a mixture of crops will see increased premium costs of approximately 54 per cent for annual insurance and hail […] Read more
Organic sector booms despite lack of government support
But regulation, marketing support, and data collection would fuel even further growth, says report
Reading Time: 3 minutes Canada’s organic food industry is booming — but could be doing even better, says an industry association. “The organic industry in Canada continues growing at an impressive rate with 14.9 per cent annual growth since 2017 and an estimated sales value of $8.1 billion,” says the latest annual ‘State of Organics’ report from the Canadian […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Prices likely to hold firm after CP stoppage
MarketsFarm — Feed prices have remained fairly steady over the last week and are likely to continue to do so in the coming week, according to Erin Harakal, senior trader for Agfinity at Stony Plain, Alta. “I don’t see anything drastically changing in the next week,” she said. Harakal added there was nervousness in the […] Read more
Get a tax credit on checkoffs
Reading Time: < 1 minute Crop commissions are reminding growers that they can get a tax credit for their checkoffs. The Scientific Research and Experimental Development Fund (SR&ED) program is based on the percentage of a checkoff that is used for crop research and development — an amount that varies for each crop. For barley, every $100 in 2021 checkoffs […] Read more
AAFC warns of uncertainty in latest crop outlook
MarketsFarm — The supply/demand balance sheets for Canada’s major crops were largely left unchanged in the latest outlook Friday from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. While the March report only saw minor revisions, the government agency cautioned that “the economic outlook, for the world and Canadian grain markets, is particularly uncertain due to the Russian invasion […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Sector bracing for logistics challenge
A CP lockout could put feeders weeks behind in supplies
MarketsFarm — Feed grain buyers in Alberta’s feedlot alley are well covered with contracted supplies, but the logistics of getting that grain where it needs to be are facing some uncertainty with looming labour action at Canadian Pacific Railway. Buyers in feedlot alley are about 80 per cent covered right now, said Jim Beusekom of […] Read more
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