Canada is now producing some of the world’s best craft beer — but having a bear on the label or a little maple syrup in the recipe doesn’t hurt either, say Jeff Orr (left) and Don Tse of Far Out Exporters.

Calgary beer lovers create business to bring craft beer to the world

Along with great malt and fresh water, brewers here have quickly become elite at their craft

Reading Time: 3 minutes Alberta has seen its craft beer industry boom in the last 10 years — and now a trio of three entrepreneurs want the world to know what provincial craft brewers have to offer. “Canada has a global reputation for its clear skies and clean water,” said Don Tse, a beer writer and consultant who operates […] Read more




Chlormequat warning for all barley uses

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


Blindman Brewing in Lacombe has received a $102,000 grant to capture and reuse all of the CO2 produced in its brewing process.

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

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

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


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

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

Packers have seen good margins and that’s drawing huge numbers of U.S. cows north but it’s been a different story for feedlots, which have struggled for years to make money.

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



Barley. (Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

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