The supply of top-quality malt barley will be down this year, but Kevin Sich of Rahr Malting says he’s not seeing shortages.

It’s a year of disappointment for most Alberta malt barley growers

Wicked harvest will see a lot of the malt crop downgraded, but maltsters appear to have enough

Reading Time: 4 minutes Jeff Nielsen considers himself one of the lucky ones — he got all his barley off before winter-in-September weather arrived and knows it’s malt quality. “If you got it off before all this crappy weather, you may have malt. If you still have barley now, it’s very doubtful that you have malt,” the Olds-area producer […] Read more

Wheat research receives funding

Wheat research receives funding

Reading Time: < 1 minute Eleven research projects ranging from nitrogen fertilizer use and soil health to drying grain while in storage are receiving $2.2 million from the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission and Alberta Wheat. Three of the projects are on fusarium head blight (management, resistance, and post-harvest strategies) while four are either focused on, or have a significant component […] Read more






Canada thistle seedling. (Photo courtesy Canola Council of Canada)

Vietnam could halt imports of wheat containing thistle seed

Hanoi | Reuters — Vietnam might halt imports of wheat cargoes containing cirsium arvense, or thistle seed, while suggesting local importers should seek supplies from Kazakhstan, Australia and Argentina, local media reported on Thursday. Wheat importer Vietnam, whose main suppliers include Russia, Australia and Canada, has been battling with imported wheat contaminated with thistle seed […] Read more



young farmer touching ripe golden wheat in field

Five Alberta Wheat positions open

Deadline for nominations is Oct. 31

Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Wheat is accepting nominations for one director and three regional reps in Region 3, as well as the director-at-large position, which represents all five of its regions. Elections for the Region 3 positions, if required, will take place at the Next Level Farming meeting at the Lacombe Memorial Centre on Nov. 13. Voting for […] Read more


Alberta Barley seeking nominations

Alberta Barley seeking nominations

Deadline is Oct. 31

Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Barley is seeking nominations for 25 positions — two directors in Regions 5 and 6; one director-at-large for Regions 1, 3, 5, and 6; and 22 delegate spots. Any farmers seeking a director or director-at-large position must submit paperwork via fax to Alberta Barley at 1-403-291-0190 or by email to [email protected] by Oct. 31. […] Read more

World crop briefs: Russia makes wheat pitch to Algeria

CNS Canada — Russia is attempting to crack Algerian wheat markets open, according to reports from Bloomberg news agency. Russia recently hosted a tour of Algerian officials and plans to send a trial shipment of wheat to Algeria soon, the agricultural agency Rosselkhoznadzor told Bloomberg. Russian wheat exports to Algeria have previously been limited because […] Read more