Updated, Dec. 20 — Cattle from four more herds in British Columbia and two in Alberta are now being tested for bovine tuberculosis as officials probe the country’s latest domestic case of the disease. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Monday reported the six herds are now under “movement controls” while TB testing is underway. […] Read more
Six more cattle herds to be tested in TB probe
G3 plans new Edmonton-area grain elevator
Grain handler G3 Canada has announced its third move into Alberta, with plans for an elevator near Morinville, about 25 km north of Edmonton. The Winnipeg company said Thursday it will start construction “shortly” at its chosen site just west of town, connecting to Canadian National Railway (CN) track on the north side of Highway […] Read more
Fall rye’s popularity catching on Prairies
CNS Canada — It’s good and bad news when it comes to winter cereal acreage in Western Canada. Winter wheat acres in Manitoba and Saskatchewan are down this fall, while acreage in Alberta increased, and fall rye acres in all provinces rose. “I think a lot of the guys that were growing winter wheat have […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market searching for direction
Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were quite variable from seven days earlier. Prices were unchanged in the eastern Prairie regions; however, Alberta markets traded $3 to as much as $7 below week-ago levels. Alberta and Saskatchewan feedlot inventories are running 16 per cent above year-ago levels, so there’s limited buying power available. Calves are fleshier […] Read more
Alberta cattle producers vote to keep refundable checkoff
Preliminary results in Alberta beef producers’ service charge plebiscite put a slim majority in favour of keeping their checkoff refundable. Out of 1,874 votes cast, 962 votes, or 51.3 per cent, fell in favour of a refundable service charge model, with 908 for a non-refundable model and four ballots spoiled, according to the preliminary figures […] Read more
Alberta to buy rail cars for oil
Ottawa | Reuters — The Alberta government is in talks to buy rail cars to transport 120,000 barrels per day of crude oil and expects a deal to conclude within weeks, Premier Rachel Notley said Wednesday, as the province takes actions to move oil stuck in the region because of a lack of pipeline capacity. […] Read more
Alberta farmers try to wrap up ‘very unusual year’
CNS Canada — As winter approaches, producers in Alberta are still in the fields trying to wrap up the last bit of the 2018 harvest. According to the final crop report issued by Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, about six per cent of all crops were still in the field at the end of October. The […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Durum, red spring wheat head to feed market
CNS Canada — Feed grain prices have fluctuated very little over the past few weeks according to one Alberta-based commodities trader. Jim Beusekom, president of Market Place Commodities in Lethbridge, said corn has been getting $245-$250 per tonne. There is plenty of corn available in the U.S. and its price is often the cap on […] Read more
Klassen: Softer demand causes feeder prices to weaken
Compared to last week, Alberta feeder cattle markets traded $4 to as much as $8 lower; however, Manitoba and Saskatchewan prices experienced a week-over-week decline of $3 to $5 on average. Demand from Eastern Canada appeared to limit slippage in the eastern Prairie regions but some of these markets also faltered late in the week. […] Read more
Klassen: Weather weighs on feeder cattle
Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $3 to as much as $6 lower. Eastern Prairie regions experienced demand from Ontario and Quebec, which limited the downside; however, Alberta markets faltered as buyers, having factored in a higher deathloss due to adverse weather. Light wet snow along with warmer temperatures during the […] Read more