Ardent Mills’ milling facility at Saskatoon. (ArdentMills.com)

North America’s millers, bakers scramble to satisfy bread binge

Chicago/Winnipeg | Reuters — North American flour mills and bakeries are rushing to boost production as the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus leads to consumer stockpiling of staples such as bread and pasta. The virus’ spread prompted orders to stay at home in some U.S. states, including New York, California and Illinois last week, following […] Read more

(Alkestida/iStock/Getty Images)

Solid demand, logistics underpin durum bids

MarketsFarm — Durum bids in Western Canada have found some support from solid demand and logistical issues elsewhere in the world. Anecdotal reports of pasta hoarding, due to COVID-19 coronavirus concerns, were also somewhat supportive. Cash durum bids in Saskatchewan are currently in the $7.50-$8 per bushel range, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire data. That […] Read more


(Country Guide file photo)

Prairie cash wheat: Bids surge on U.S. gains, weaker loonie

MarketsFarm — Wheat bids in Western Canada were significantly higher for the week ended Thursday on gains in U.S. markets coupled with a weaker Canadian dollar. Canada Prairie Spring Red (CPSR) wheat saw the largest increases, with bids up by more than $20 per tonne. Increases for Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat were in […] Read more

Barley. (Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Grain prices mostly steady through market turmoil

MarketsFarm — Despite commotion in markets due to economic impact from the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, feed grain prices have been steady, according to Nelson Neumann of Agfinity in Edmonton. Feed prices were in a steady decline since the cold snap around the beginning of January, he said. “This week/last week, we haven’t seen the price […] Read more


Canada Malting’s processing plant in Montreal. (CanadaMalting.com)

GrainCorp’s global malting spinoff gets shareholders’ blessing

Canada Malting to go to new owner, United Malt Group

Shareholders in the Australian owner of Canada’s biggest malt company have voted nearly all in favour of a spinoff for their worldwide malting assets. During their general meeting Monday in Sydney, participating shareholders in GrainCorp voted over 99 per cent in favour of resolutions which will see the company’s malt business become a standalone ASX-listed […] Read more

(Country Guide file photo)

Prairie cash wheat: Weaker loonie battles lower U.S. futures

MarketsFarm — Wheat bids in Western Canada for the week ended Thursday saw prices for Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat on either side of steady. Prices for Canada Prairie Spring Red (CPSR) saw a greater range of losses and gains, while prices for Canada Western Amber Durum (CWAD) were steady to higher. There was […] Read more


(Kat72/iStock/Getty Images)

Feed weekly outlook: Seasonal restrictions underpin grains

Coronavirus fallout being watched

MarketsFarm — Seasonal weight restrictions and spring road bans are providing some underlying support for feed grain bids in Western Canada, with the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak also being followed closely. “Winter weights are coming off, which is restricting the areas (feedlots) can pull from,” said Allen Pirness, of MarketPlace Commodities in Lethbridge, adding “there’s a […] Read more

New feed and forage barley lines bring high yields, strong standability

New feed and forage barley lines bring high yields, strong standability

‘Fast breeding’ means producers can expect to see varieties hit the marketplace in almost half the time

Reading Time: 3 minutes New feed and forage genetics are coming down the pipe for cattle feeders. At the end of February, the Prairie Grain Development Committee approved three new feed and forage barley varieties from the Field Crop Development Centre, as well as two triticale varieties that would be suitable for feed and forage. “Over the past couple […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Soft demand weighs on prices

MarketsFarm — Feed grain prices on the Prairies remain soft ahead of spring planting, due to quiet demand from feedlots. “Feedlots are full of grain right now,” Brandon Motz of CorNine Commodities at Lacombe, Alta. said, explaining that there’s currently a lot of grain in feeding pipelines. “Spring replacement into feedlots has been really slow.” […] Read more

(Country Guide file photo)

Prairie cash wheat: Spring wheat drops, durum steady

MGEX, CBOT, K.C. May wheats down on week

MarketsFarm — Prairie wheat bids for Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) and Canada Prairie Spring Red (CPSR) wheat were lower for the week ended Thursday, following losses in U.S. futures. Canada Western Amber Durum (CWAD) largely held steady, buoyed by a weaker Canadian dollar, which lost about six-10ths of a cent. Average CWRS (13.5 per […] Read more