MarketsFarm — As 2022 begins, feed grain markets in Alberta have been “status quo,” according to a grain buyer. “There’s a lot of grain that has been pre-contracted in terms of corn coming in from the United States,” said Brandon Motz of CorNine Commodities at Lacombe, Alta. “Lots of priority has been towards execution, making […] Read more

Feed weekly outlook: Feedlots, elevators filled with corn

Klassen: Feeder market has positive factors
There were no feeder cattle sales last week due to the holiday season; however, this didn’t stop many cow-calf producers from inquiring about the market outlook for 2022. This past year was one for the record books. There is no doubt about it. Waves of COVID-19 caused beef demand to be quite volatile from month […] Read more

Feed weekly outlook: Prices to remain steady until spring
MarketsFarm – Feed grains in Western Canada are seeing limited trading during the holiday season, but the demand for feed remains at feedlots. “The trade has been very slow. We’re kind of just in execution mode right now,” said Evan Peterson, trader for JGL Commodities in Moose Jaw, Sask. “Stocks are tight on the farm, […] Read more

Alberta cereal commissions ‘halfway there’ on merger vote
If wheat growers vote in favour next month, a plebiscite will be held on sealing the deal
Reading Time: 3 minutes Alberta Barley is one step closer to amalgamating with Alberta Wheat following a vote in favour of the proposal at the barley growers’ annual general meeting early this month. “At our AGM last week, the Alberta Barley delegates voted highly in favour of moving forward,” said chair Tara Sawyer. “Now the next step is the […] Read more
A look back at the year that was — from bad to verse
There’s not that much to celebrate — and so this ‘poetry’ you’ll just have to tolerate
Reading Time: 3 minutes Once again, a year’s passed and for better or worse We start a new one in doggerel — that’s badly rhymed verse We review the last year (which you could say was a hexed one) And give you some tips on what to do in the next one Now I’ve heard all the stories while […] Read more

Feed weekly outlook: Corn is king at feedlots to end 2021
MarketsFarm — As the holidays approach and 2021 comes to a close, there was little trading activity on feed grain markets, according to Allen Pirness, senior trader at Market Place Commodities in Lethbridge. “The offers are still quite a bit higher than the bids. But there hasn’t been a lot of appetite right at the […] Read more

Klassen: Feeder market stabilizes after December surge
Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle prices traded $3-$4 on either side of unchanged. Small groups of various quality characterized sale volumes. There were a few packages of backgrounded yearlings that sold at decent levels. Finishing feedlots were fairly aggressive on groups in the 700- to 800-lb. category. Higher flesh levels have become […] Read more

AAFC adjusts grain, oilseed balance sheets slightly
MarketsFarm –– Updated supply and demand tables from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), released late Friday, included only minor adjustments to balance sheets for the country’s major crops. The department’s projected ending stocks for wheat and canola were left unchanged from the previous month. Factoring in the official estimates from Statistics Canada, released Dec. 3, […] Read more

Feed weekly outlook: Bids high, but limited supplies mean little moving
MarketsFarm — Feed grain prices in Western Canada remain at very high levels heading into the New Year, but little is actually trading as feedlots fill up with cheaper corn from the U.S. “The volume trading of Canadian feed grains has dropped significantly,” said Jim Beusekom, of Market Place Commodities at Lethbridge, noting about 80 […] Read more

When it comes to new varieties, there’s a need for speed, says breeder
Creating the equivalent of a 22-hour day can speed up variety development by six times
Reading Time: 4 minutes Combining ‘speed breeding’ with new genomic tools will be able to deliver big dividends for farmers in the coming years, says a plant breeder using the accelerated breeding technique. “It really highlights that we can bring these technologies together to improve genetic gain in the crops of the future,” said Lee Hickey, an associate professor […] Read more