Photo: File

Alberta crops improve with rain 

MarketsFarm – Drought conditions that devastated crops in Alberta last year and were poised to do the same this year are becoming something in the past, according to the province’s latest crop report. Recent rainfall has been wiping out any notion of drought in 2022 as soil moisture conditions continued to improve across the province. […] Read more

File photo of a pea crop south of Ethelton, Sask. on Aug. 1, 2019. (Dave Bedard photo)

Pulse weekly outlook: Peas, lentils faring well but threats remain

MarketsFarm — Growing conditions for peas and lentils in Saskatchewan during the spring can be described as variable. While western parts of the province continued to endure dry conditions carried over from last year’s drought, regions in the east were drenched with near-continuous rainfall to go along with below-normal temperatures. Lionel Ector, president of Diefenbaker […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Barley price forecasts enhance feeder cattle demand

Recent rains nearly guarantee at least average yields

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were relatively unchanged. Heifer and steer calves were quoted steady to $3 lower on average but the market was harder to define due to limited numbers. Small packages of calves of various quality resulted in the wide-ranging price structure. Buying interest for grassers appears to have subsided. […] Read more

(Thinkstock photo)

Prairie cash wheat: Bids firm as loonie falls

MarketsFarm — Spring wheat bids in Western Canada moved higher during the week ended Thursday, as heavy losses in the Canadian dollar more than countered the bearish influence of weakening U.S. futures. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS, 13.5 per cent protein) wheat prices were up by $4.50-$7.40 per tonne during the week ended Thursday, […] Read more



(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Rains enhance demand for grass cattle

Deferred cattle futures showing strength

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $2-$3 on either side of unchanged; steer calves under 700 lbs. were steady to $2 higher on average; heifer calves were steady to $5 higher. Southern Alberta, along with the western half of Alberta, received 30-40 mm of rain over the week which enhanced demand for […] Read more


(Thinkstock photo)

Prairie cash wheat: Spring wheat up, durum pulls back

MarketsFarm — Wheat prices on the Canadian Prairies were mixed during the week ended Thursday. Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) and Canada Prairie Spring Red (CPSR) wheats incurred moderate gains, as Canada Western Amber Durum (CWAD) fell back. Good upticks in the U.S. wheat complex fueled price increases in Western Canada, along with a weaker […] Read more

(Government of Alberta via Flickr)

Rains bring much-needed moisture to Alberta’s south

MarketsFarm — Rains across southern and central regions of Alberta were both much-needed and well-received during the week ended Tuesday. Both regions received 20 to 50 millimetres of precipitation, according to the province’s weekly crop report released Friday. The amount of rain that fell onto the south region was equivalent to the amount of precipitation […] Read more



(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Prices slip slightly

MarketsFarm — There has been scant movement in feed grain prices over the last week, according to Susanne Leclerc of Market Master Ltd. in Edmonton, who noted demand has backed off a little. Buyers have stepped away following rains throughout much of the province, including the drought-stricken south. In turn, she said, prices “softened slightly.” […] Read more