MarketsFarm — While recent wet weather on the Prairies has helped bring down prices for feed grains, demand — or a lack thereof — has been another primary factor. “The rains have definitely affected (prices) a bit, but probably not to the extent demand has,” said Erin Harakal, trade manager for Agfinity at Stony Plain, […] Read more

Feed weekly outlook: Rains, demand keep bids down

Feed weekly outlook: Rising costs cut into cattle profits
MarketsFarm — Strong demand for beef has kept fed cattle prices in Western Canada well supported, but high feed grain prices continue to cut into profits in the feeder sector, according to CanFax analyst Brian Perillat. Fed cattle prices have rallied for most of 2021, he said, “so feedlots, after losing money for two to […] Read more

Chlormequat warning for all barley uses
Reading Time: < 1 minute Chlormequat — the active ingredient in the plant growth regulator product Manipulator — has been given a Yellow/Be Informed rating in Keep it Clean’s product advisory listing for barley, whether it’s sold for malt, food or feed. Previously it had a Green/Acceptable rating except for use on malting barley. “Growers should talk to their grain […] Read more

Lacombe brewer closes its own carbon loop
Blindman Brewing in Lacombe will be capturing up to 100 tonnes of CO2 every year
Reading Time: 3 minutes An Alberta craft brewery is turning its carbon emissions into cash, thanks to a grant that will allow it to capture and reuse carbon in its brewing process. “We paid $60,000 last year just buying CO2 in bulk,” said Kirk Zembal, co-owner of Blindman Brewing in Lacombe. “If you’re using that much CO2 and producing […] Read more

Feed weekly outlook: Rains, lower demand pressure grain bids
Old-crop demand 'not that strong anymore'
MarketsFarm — With feedlots across Western Canada already stocked up on feed barley and wheat for their animals, reduced demand for those crops and recent wet weather have left high-delivered bids mixed. According to Prairie Ag Hotwire data from Wednesday, high-delivered bids for feed barley remained steady in Saskatchewan at $6 per bushel, went down […] Read more

Klassen: Feeder market remains firm
Canada's feeder exports down off year-ago levels
Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle prices were steady to $2 higher on average. Strength was noted in the mid-weight categories as lighter calves and yearlings (900 pounds-plus) were relatively unchanged. Major feedlots were dominant buyers, with little demand surfacing for grassers. Feeding margins are in positive territory and recent rains have enhance […] Read more

A flood of American cattle is coming north — but the tide may turn
Alberta usually exports cattle but a quarter of a million U.S. cows a year are coming to Western Canada
Reading Time: 5 minutes Alberta feeder cattle imports have exploded, reaching highs not seen since the early 2000s. But feedlot operators are still struggling to turn a profit, and adding to their woes, the surge in American cattle may soon slow. “We were barely importing any feeders four or five years ago,” said Brian Perillat, manager of Canfax. “We […] Read more

WTO creates panel in China-Australia barley row
Sydney/Geneva | Reuters — The World Trade Organization (WTO) agreed on Friday to establish a dispute settlement panel to resolve a row over anti-dumping and countervailing duties imposed by China on Australian barley, a trade source attending the meeting said. Australia launched a formal appeal to the WTO last year, seeking a review of China’s […] Read more

Feed weekly outlook: Canada’s barley exports show no signs of slowing
MarketsFarm — Tight Canadian barley supplies, due in part to surging export demand, have kept feed grain bids well supported in the Prairies over the past few months. The cupboards, however, are not quite bare, with weekly Canadian barley exports hitting their second-highest level of the crop-year-to-date. Canada exported 175,500 tonnes of barley during the […] Read more

Fee cuts by grain commission not enough, say Alberta farm groups
Some are hailing the reduction of inspection fees for grain exports, but not Alberta’s cereal commissions
Reading Time: 4 minutes The Canadian Grain Commission is slashing the contentious fees it charges for grain inspection — but Alberta’s cereal groups say that just shows the system is “fundamentally flawed.” The grain commission says reducing inspection and weighing fees will cut the cost of exporting grain by nearly $14 million in the next crop year and more […] Read more