MarketsFarm — Highly varied precipitation across the Canadian Prairies in May saw drought conditions worsen in southern Alberta while parts of Manitoba and Saskatchewan were becoming too wet, according to the latest federal Drought Monitor report. The report, released by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) for the period ended May 31, showed that overall, 19 […] Read more
Drought worsens in Alberta, but eastern Prairies wet
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
Pulse weekly outlook: Lentils planted, now it’s wait-and-see
MarketsFarm — As planting of lentils on the Canadian Prairies has pretty much wrapped up for 2022, prices have been holding firm, according to Colin Young of Midwest Grain Ltd. at Moose Jaw. “In pulses right now, this is the naturally quiet time of the year. We’re ramping old-crop into new-crop,” Young said. “Prices are […] Read more
Klassen: Negative feeding margins temper strength in feeder market
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearlings weighing over 800 lbs. traded steady to $2 lower on average. Feeder cattle under 800 lbs. were relatively unchanged. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis at an average price of $288 delivered, down from the range of $288-$290 seven days earlier. Using a 60 […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Rains forecast for southern Alberta
MarketsFarm — The prospect of rain over drought-stricken southern Alberta, with Calgary and Lethbridge possibly seeing at least 30 millimetres from June 4 to 7, would seem to be a godsend for growers. However, recent history suggests the moisture may not matter in the long term, according to Mike Fleischhauer of Eagle Commodities Ltd. at […] Read more
Environment Canada sees cool summer for Manitoba
MarketsFarm — Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan could be in for a cooler-than-normal summer, according to the latest long-range outlook from Environment Canada. The latest seasonal forecast from the government agency, released Tuesday, calls for a 40 to 80 per cent chance of below normal temperatures from June through August across all of the agricultural regions […] Read more
More money helps, but fixing rural vet shortage a daunting task
U of Calgary vet school is doubling enrolment but also working on ways to make rural practices more attractive
Reading Time: 3 minutes The shortage of rural vets is no secret to any livestock producer, but there is fresh hope that may change in the years ahead. Flush with major new provincial funding, officials at the province’s vet school say they have a plan to address the long-standing problem. It will start with a slight increase in veterinary […] Read more
Snack maker chooses Airdrie for potato chip facility
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta agriculture is adding another notch to its economic diversification belt. Super-Pufft, one of North America’s largest makers of salty snacks for retailers and national brands, is opening a $50-million potato chip-processing facility in Airdrie. “Hopefully very soon we’ll open our state-of-the-art facility that is going to cater to Western Canada and western United States,” […] Read more
Klassen: Steady demand supports feeder cattle prices
Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets were relatively unchanged. Weakness in deferred live cattle futures and uncertainty in the feed grain market tempered the upside for all weight categories of replacement cattle. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $288-$290 delivered, steady to $2 lower […] Read more
Clubroot diagnosis no longer a death sentence
The disease continues its relentless spread across Alberta — but the risk has become more manageable
Reading Time: 5 minutes John Guelly felt as though he had been diagnosed with a terminal illness when he found clubroot in his canola fields nearly 10 years ago. But in the decade since then, the Westlock-area farmer has come to view the disease as more of a chronic condition — still risky, still potentially devastating, but ultimately manageable […] Read more