Reading Time: 6 minutes By virtually any measure, the Hilton family is successful. Over the past three decades, the family has expanded its Strathmore-area operation from just over 2,800 acres to around 13,000, diversified crop production, and started a successful malting and brewing company that complements the core farm business. As well, family members have taken leadership roles in […] Read more
Putting the success into farm succession
Hilton Ventures has grown by leaps and bounds but the greatest accomplishment is bringing in the next generation
Being open to new ideas creates opportunity
Farm family isn’t fearful of doing something different if someone is passionate about it
Reading Time: < 1 minute When Kyle Geeraert was getting his start in agriculture one of his stops was managing a grain company, where he and wife Meleah were exposed to some new malting equipment they thought had promise. Meleah happened to have some connections in the industry. She is the daughter of Spencer and Lynne Hilton and malting barley […] Read more
Wheat breeders get a cheat sheet
‘Breeder chip’ doesn’t make the process faster but ups the odds of hitting pay dirt
Reading Time: 4 minutes Plant breeding is strictly a numbers game — but researchers have found a way to improve the odds with help from a new tool called a ‘breeder chip.’ “Breeding is like a lottery. The more tickets you buy, the greater the chance of success,” said Curtis Pozniak, a professor of plant sciences and wheat breeder […] Read more
Beetles halt U.S. DDGs exports to Thailand
Chicago | Reuters — Exports of U.S. distillers’ dried grains to Thailand have stopped due to new fumigation requirements installed after beetles were discovered in a shipment last year, U.S. traders said on Friday. Thai government officials said U.S. shipments required certificates showing they had been “properly fumigated.” Traders said sales had effectively been halted […] Read more
Fortunately there’s a better way to thresh
Reading Time: < 1 minute They claimed they were going for a Guinness world record, but it was all just in fun — which was a good thing considering the results. Organizers of the recent Farming Smarter conference urged attendees to set a record for ‘hand-threshing’ wheat in 60 seconds. The exercise was eye-opening: This group rubbing the chaff off […] Read more
New chairs for Alberta Barley and Alberta Wheat
Reading Time: 2 minutes Dave Bishop is the new chair of Alberta Barley and will soon be joined by another new chair of the commission’s sister organization, Alberta Wheat. Bishop, who farms near Barons and has been a director since 2015, was elected chair at Alberta Barley’s recent AGM, replacing Jason Lenz, who has been chair for the past […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Prairie grain prices higher than last year
CNS Canada — Nice weather over the holidays allowed for good movement of feed grains in Western Canada, with prices steady to above year-ago levels. “I would say we cruised through Christmas and (the) New Year holidays fairly well. Not a lot of massive panic. We had nice weather which really helped, loads continued to […] Read more
Prairie wheat bids fall with U.S. futures
CNS Canada — Wheat bids in Western Canada were mostly down for the week ended Friday with a weaker Canadian dollar and falling U.S. futures. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS, 13.5 per cent protein) wheat prices were down $1-$7, according to price quotes from a cross-section of delivery points compiled by PDQ (Price and […] Read more
Falling U.S. futures weigh on Prairie wheat bids
CNS Canada — Hard red spring wheat bids in Western Canada lost ground during the week ended Friday, as losses in U.S. futures more than offset the supportive influence of the declining Canadian dollar. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS, 13.5 per cent protein) wheat prices were down by $3-$11 per tonne over the course […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Alberta feed grains firm
CNS Canada — The seasonality of the feed grain sector is contributing to a firmer tone in Alberta barley and feed wheat bids heading into the New Year. “We’ve seen bids in our office on feed barley jump up a decent amount,” said Nelson Neumann, a trader with Edmonton-area grain brokerage Agfinity. He linked the […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
