Reading Time: 6 minutes It’s that time of year again. With a pen in hand, you flip through the pages, circling what looks good, hoping you’ll get what you want and praying that what you get will be as good as it looks on paper. Poring over the new Alberta Seed Guide may feel a little like flipping through […] Read more

Superstar or stinker? Merits of new seed varieties can all depend on your farm
There are lots of new varieties with ‘really, really good genetics’ but they might not be a fit for you

Feed weekly outlook: Prairie prices remain strong
Exports, domestic use both up on year
MarketsFarm — Feed grain prices in Western Canada held steady during the first week of December as solid export demand from China continues to underpin the domestic feed market. “Demand has backed off a little bit for December. We’ve seen a flattening [of prices], but I think that’s just a step back for now,” said […] Read more

Klassen: Feeder market takes direction from live cattle futures
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded steady to $4 lower; midweight calves traded $3 lower to $3 higher and calves under 550 lbs. were relatively unchanged. Yearling supplies are limited at this time of year but demand is also hard to find. These cattle will come on the fed market during the […] Read more

Grain, oilseed exports well ahead of year-ago
Chinese demand up substantially for Canada's crops
MarketsFarm — Canadian grain exports continue to run at a very solid pace, with canola, wheat and barley movement-to-date all up substantially on the year. Total exports of Canada’s major grains and oilseeds as of Nov. 29 came in at 18.9 million tonnes, according to Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) data. That’s up by nearly five […] Read more

Feed weekly outlook: Export demand supports prices
MarketsFarm — Feed grain prices remain strong into the winter, due to steady feedlot demand and solid export activity. Brandon Motz of CorNine Commodities at Lacombe, Alta. said feedlots have freed up some pen space after COVID-19 shutdowns created backlogs, but demand remained steady. “There’s more pen space in southern Alberta, compared to other years,” […] Read more

Four-way Seeds Canada merger approved
Four organizations to amalgamate in February without CSGA on board
A merger of four Canadian seed industry organizations has been cleared to proceed without its fifth partner. Members of the Canadian Plant Technology Agency (CPTA), Commercial Seed Analysts Association of Canada (CSAAC), Canadian Seed Institute (CSI) and Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA) have voted in favour of amalgamation, the groups announced Wednesday. An inaugural board […] Read more

StatsCan report to provide clarity on 2020 crop production
MarketsFarm — Market participants and producers will be looking to Statistics Canada’s principal field crop report, due out Thursday, for clarity regarding 2020 crop yields. “We’re looking to see how severely the heat damaged the crop, and how yield estimates were tempered later in the growing season,” said Jerry Klassen, an analyst in Winnipeg. Klassen […] Read more

Farm Credit Canada forecasts prices gains ahead
Reading Time: < 1 minute Prices for canola, wheat and red lentils will go higher in the comings months, Farm Credit Canada says in its latest price projections. Canola will average $520 a tonne over the next six months, the ag lender said in an early-November e-newsletter. That compares to $443 a tonne for the Jan.-Sept. period. FCC pegs spring […] Read more

Prairie Cereals Summit cancelled
Reading Time: < 1 minute The rise in COVID cases has forced Alberta Wheat and Alberta Barley to cancel its Prairie Cereals Summit in Banff in December, although Alberta Barley’s AGM will be held online on Dec. 9. The barley group is encouraging farmers to register to participate in the online AGM and delegate and director session that will feature […] Read more

Feed weekly outlook: Barley bids firm as feeders seek coverage through spring
MarketsFarm — Feed barley bids held firm through November in Western Canada, with higher prices for deferred delivery as feedlots work to secure supplies in the face of solid export demand. Spot feed barley bids in the Lethbridge, Alta. area have held in the $270-$275 per tonne range through November, said Jim Beusekom of Market […] Read more