(Country Guide file photo)

Prairie cash wheat: Bids mixed, reacting to futures and loonie

MarketsFarm — Spring wheat bids in Western Canada were mixed during the week ended Thursday, as losses in U.S. futures were countered by support from a weakening Canadian dollar. The currency lost roughly a full cent during the week. Average Canada Western Red Spring (13.5 per cent protein) wheat prices were steady to down $2 […] Read more

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Feed weekly outlook: Prairie grain prices on rise despite harvest

MarketsFarm — Feed barley and wheat prices in Western Canada have been showing some unusual strength in late September, with prices rising despite seasonal harvest pressure. “Right now we’ve been seeing a lot of talk about exports and the need for feed at feedlots,” said Erin Harakal, senior trader at Agfinity at Stony Plain, Alta. […] Read more


(Greg Berg photo)

Oats values hold steady at harvest

MarketsFarm — The oats market in Western Canada is holding relatively steady despite seasonal harvest pressure, although yields failed to live up to earlier expectations. “Steady at harvest time is good,” said Scott Shiels, grain procurement merchant with Grain Millers in Yorkton. Prices often dip at harvest time due to increased deliveries, he noted, but […] Read more

Fusarium head blight is widespread in southern Alberta but is only present in small levels or not at all in the north. The province’s decision to remove it from the pest act has sparked a protest, including a call on the home page of the MD of Peace urging farmers to ask for a refund of the checkoff paid to Alberta Wheat and Alberta Barley.

Fusarium removal from pest act sparks protest

Farmers in north fear the regulatory change will open the doors to fusarium — and make cereal crops unprofitable

Reading Time: 7 minutes The removal of fusarium head blight from Alberta’s Agricultural Pests Act has sparked protests from farmers in the as-yet-uninfected northern parts of the province. “My biggest concern is that we’re opening the gates to infect thus far uninfected areas of the province,” said Janice Reyda, who farms in the Peace Country near Brownvale. “Fusarium is […] Read more


Barley. (Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Prices stronger after harvest

MarketsFarm — Feed grain prices have been higher as the harvest has concluded across most of the Canadian Prairies. “It feels like last week and this week, the harvest has wrapped up in many areas,” said Allen Pirness, a trader with Market Place Commodities in Lethbridge. “That should switch the focus for getting the crop […] Read more



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Feed weekly outlook: Barley finds support in lull between old, new crops

MarketsFarm — Feed barley bids in Western Canada are seeing some modest strength in early September, as old-crop supplies run out and the new crop is not yet available. “Prices have definitely gone up this past week,” said Mike Fleischhauer of Eagle Commodities at Lethbridge. Expectations for a good 2020 crop had farmers making space […] Read more

(Country Guide file photo)

Prairie cash wheat: Bids trend higher

MarketsFarm — Spring wheat bids in Western Canada were mostly higher during the week ended Friday, taking some direction from U.S. futures. Midweek strength in the Canadian dollar had pressured basis levels, but the currency retreated to be relatively unchanged on the week. Average Canada Western Red Spring (13.5 per cent protein) wheat prices were […] Read more


(File photo)

Feed weekly outlook: Prices gain strength

MarketsFarm — Harvest activity in the western Canadian Prairies had depressed feed grain prices at the end of August, but prices have recovered slightly. “There’s been a bit of a break in harvest activity,” Allen Pirness of Market Place Commodities in Lethbridge said. Producers in southern Alberta had been harvesting barley at the end of […] Read more

Barley. (Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

China ban turns Australian barley growers toward domestic market

Growers may shift to alternative crops next season

Sydney | Reuters — Australian farmers will be forced to sell their barley supplies to the domestic livestock industry or cheaper international markets after China effectively banned imports from Australia, farmers said on Wednesday. China late on Tuesday said it would ban barley imports from Australia’s largest grain exporter, just weeks after it slapped a […] Read more