Reading Time: 5 minutes Start planning to minimize next year’s risk as soon as you’ve parked the combine — and that starts with fall soil testing, says agronomist Matt Gosling. “There has probably never been a more critical year in my 18 years of doing agronomy to soil test,” said the owner of Strathmore-based Premium Ag. “Soil testing is […] Read more

The ball game has changed but the fundamentals haven’t
After a bruising year, farmers need a game plan to lower their risk in 2022, says veteran agronomist

Prairie crops downgraded in latest StatsCan estimates
Corn, soybean crops upsized from previous report
MarketsFarm — Drought conditions across Canada’s Prairies cut into yields throughout the region in 2021, with production of most of the major crops downgraded by Statistics Canada in updated crop estimates released Tuesday. Using satellite imagery, the government agency now sees total canola production for the 2021-22 crop year at 12.78 million tonnes, which compares […] Read more

Feed weekly outlook: Incoming corn pressures barley, wheat
MarketsFarm — Pressure from forthcoming corn imports from the U.S. have been driving down feed prices for barley and wheat in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, according to Evan Peterson, trader with JGL Commodities in Saskatoon. Meanwhile, prices in Alberta held steady. “We’re seeing some decent coverage right now on the feeder side. We’re waiting for the […] Read more

Canola ending stocks down on year, but beat expectations
StatsCan pegs barley ending stocks at record low
MarketsFarm — Canadian canola ending stocks were down sharply at the end of 2020-21 compared to the previous marketing year, but still came out well ahead of trade expectations. Many other crops also saw larger-than-expected carryout numbers in Statistics Canada’s principal field crop stocks report as of July 31, 2021, released Wednesday. According to MarketsFarm […] Read more

Klassen: Optimistic fed cattle outlook supports feeder market
Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $2-$4 higher. Strong demand was noted on yearlings, which spilt over into the lighter weight categories. Major feedlot operators in Alberta set the price structure, with aggressive orders flowing across the Prairies. Some operators have been holding back on purchases due to higher prices; however, […] Read more

Feed weekly outlook: Crop estimates show severity of drought
'Corn bandwagon' filling up
MarketsFarm — Preliminary crop yield estimates released by Statistics Canada on Monday outlined just how severely the drought in Western Canada cut into production. Mike Fleischhauer, general manager for Eagle Commodities at Lethbridge, Alta., was not at all surprised by the numbers. “I think we knew that was happening all along,” he said. “There are […] Read more

Klassen: Stronger live cattle futures lift yearling market
Recent rains rejuvenate Prairie pastures
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were quoted $3 to as much as $6 higher; calf markets once again traded $3-$5 on either side of unchanged depending on the region. Unbridled buying interest was noted on larger groups of high-quality yearlings. Despite the grass conditions this summer, cattle characteristics are rated above average […] Read more

StatsCan confirms Canada’s crop production down in 2021
Corn expected to be lone exception
MarketsFarm — Production of most of Canada’s major grain, oilseed and pulse crops was down substantially in 2021-22, as drought conditions across the Prairies cut into yields, according to preliminary estimates released Monday by Statistics Canada. Of the major crops, only corn was expected to see a slight increase in production on the year as […] Read more

Smaller crops anticipated in looming StatsCan report
Survey-based data due out Monday
MarketsFarm — Heat and drought across Western Canada during the summer of 2021 seriously cut into the country’s crop production, raising traders’ expectations for reduced yields across the board when Statistics Canada on Monday releases its first production estimates of the year. Canola production is estimated at 11.5 million to 16 million tonnes, which would […] Read more

Ag department lowers crop production, export estimates
Expectations knocked down for most major Prairie crops
MarketsFarm — Canadian crop production will be down significantly in the 2021-22 marketing year, cutting into exports for all of the country’s major grains, oilseeds and pulse crops. That’s the estimation from the latest supply/demand estimates from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), released Thursday. Total field crop production for all crops is forecast to decrease […] Read more