Reading Time: 3 minutes I’ve seen and eaten some really amazing foods over the years. Cheese made from sow’s milk, rattlesnake, guinea pig, camel baked in cinnamon, insects and curious fish products. All made for memorable experiences — some that were more pleasant than others. I still cannot stomach camel or Vegemite, nor am I rushing out for grilled […] Read more
Schoepp: The power of innovation is fuelling farms everywhere
Whether big like canola, niche like pig’s milk or unexpected like stinging nettles, there’s much to celebrate
Feed weekly outlook: New crop expected to stabilize feed prices
Drought will drag Prairies' yields much lower
MarketsFarm — New crop is starting to make its way into feed grain bins as the annual harvest gets underway in Alberta. However, due to the drought conditions which have enveloped Western Canada, yields will be much lower than normal. “(The yields are) generally lower than expected and (there’s been) some disappointment,” said Allen Pirness, […] Read more
Klassen: Strong demand underpins yearling market
Western Canada will be seeking U.S. corn
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were unchanged to as much as $4 higher in some cases; calf markets traded $2-$3 on either side of unchanged as prices were quite variable across the Prairies. Major feedlot operators were extremely aggressive for yearlings. Larger groups of one-cut cattle were very well bid. April live […] Read more
Will a third of a billion dollars in drought aid be enough?
Massive emergency rescue plan won’t be enough for many
Reading Time: 5 minutes Emergency money for cattle producers is coming, but now the big questions are: How fast will it arrive? And will it be enough? Although the $340 million pledged for Alberta ranchers under the AgriRecovery program is a big number, the skyrocketing cost of feeding cattle is even bigger. “The total lend is $200 a head. […] Read more
Alberta reckons with poor quality, low crop yields
MarketsFarm – Crops in Alberta will not only have much lower yields than in previous years, but good quality crops will be harder to find. Provincial crop condition ratings declined over the past two weeks, according to the Province of Alberta’s biweekly crop report as of Aug. 10, which was released three days later. Only […] Read more
Know what you’ve got is the golden rule when feed is short
Nitrate levels are higher in drought-stressed crops, so testing feed is an absolute must
Reading Time: 4 minutes Testing your feed should top your to-do list this fall and winter. “Get that crop tested,” said Bart Lardner, a University of Saskatchewan professor who holds a research chair in cow-calf and forage systems. “Know what you’re starting with and know what you’re dealing with in terms of energy density, protein density, and anti-quality factors […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Prices to decline in September
MarketsFarm – As the harvest approaches, the yield potential for feed grains in Alberta may depend on where they are grown, according to Erin Harakal, trade manager for Agfinity Inc. in Stony Plain, Alta. “From what I hear, it’s going to be a bit lower (than average), (but) I think it’s going to be a […] Read more
Klassen: Yearlings hold value while calves remain under pressure
Compared to last week, Western Canadian yearling prices were relatively unchanged while calves were once again $2 to $4 lower. Featherlight bawlers were down $4 to as much as $8 from week-ago levels. The tight feed grain supply situation continues to set the price structure for feeder cattle. Yearlings straight off grass held a slight […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: DDGs becoming another feed option
MarketsFarm – As traditional feed grains such as barley and wheat become more expensive due to persistent drought-like conditions in the Prairies, many feedlots are using alternative sources of feed for their animals. Dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGs), the grain by-products which remain after starch has been fermented through the making of alcohol or […] Read more
Sask. Crop Report: Harvests ahead of schedule
MarketsFarm – The annual harvest in Saskatchewan is moving along earlier and faster than usual as crops dry down to high heat and lack of moisture. Three per cent of Saskatchewan’s crop has been combined, compared to the less than one per cent at this point last year, according to the province’s crop report for […] Read more