co-op refinery complex regina

Even in Regina, biodiesel refinery will benefit Alberta canola growers

Proposed facility would be a huge user of canola and boost demand for crop, say canola leaders

Reading Time: 3 minutes A supersized new biodiesel plant will be good news for Alberta canola growers — even if it’s not actually located in Alberta. “It would have been great if it had been close to home for me personally, but there’s a bigger picture,” said Sylvan Lake producer Mike Ammeter, a director for Alberta Canola. “Even if […] Read more



(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder cattle divorce from futures’ direction

Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle prices were relatively unchanged. Higher-quality yearlings and calves were steady to $4 higher in Alberta and Saskatchewan; in Manitoba, yearlings traded $2-$4 lower while calves were $3-$5 higher. Domestic cattle markets appeared to divorce from feeder and live cattle futures. June live cattle futures finished the week […] Read more


(Kevin_LS/iStock/Getty Images)

Rural, remote crime targeted in Tory MP’s bill

Bill would consider crimes' settings during sentencing

An Alberta Conservative MP is trying to tackle rural crime by introducing a law that would punish more severely those accused of targeting remote, and vulnerable, people or property. Red Deer-Lacombe MP Blaine Calkins introduced his private member’s bill for first reading in the House of Commons on Tuesday. “Rural Canadians too often don’t feel […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Prices taper off ahead of report

Feedlots 'not eating as much grain'

MarketsFarm — While prices for feed wheat and feed barley in Western Canada remain substantially higher than one year ago, the past month has seen slight declines. As of Wednesday, high-delivered bids for feed wheat were at least $7.25 per bushel, more than $1.50 higher than last year according to Prairie Ag Hotwire. However, over […] Read more


Screenshot from an Alberta Agriculture video profiling Innisfail-based pulse and grain handler W.A. Grain and Pulse Solutions. (Alberta Agriculture and Forestry via YouTube)

CGC suspends W.A. Grain’s licences to month-end

The firm, with facilities in Saskatchewan and Alberta, can't buy or sell grain in the interim

Licences for Prairie grain and pulse handler W.A. Grain and Pulse Solutions and its primary elevators in Alberta and Saskatchewan have been suspended by the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC). The suspensions took effect at 12:01 p.m. Tuesday, a CGC official said in an interview. “This means for a limited period of time (until April 30) […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder cattle markets experience volatility

Beef prices encourage slaughter pace

Compared to the previous week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $3-$4 on either side of week-ago levels. Prices were quite variable across the Prairies with four main factors influencing buyer sentiment. First, the eastern Prairie regions experienced adverse winter weather. Auction barns in Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan had smaller volumes on offer. Buyers shied […] Read more


(Flax Council of Canada photo)

More flax expected in 2021

More acres predicted, but how many more?

MarketsFarm — Flax prices in Western Canada have remained strong and are down little off their recent highs, according to Scott Shiels of Grain Millers Canada Corp. at Yorkton, Sask. Shiels believes those good prices will lead producers to plant more acres of flax this spring — but not the 22 per cent hike to […] Read more

(Thinkstock photo)

Prairie cash wheat: Bids soar after weather events

U.S. May wheat futures up on week

MarketsFarm — Cash bids for Prairie wheat jumped as wintry weather made its way across the Prairies and U.S. northern Plains during the week ending Thursday. Wheat futures in the U.S. rose due to spillover from soybeans. However, a stronger Canadian dollar tempered Prairie wheat prices. Manitoba and Saskatchewan, as well as Montana, North Dakota […] Read more