This year’s allocation is smaller but there’s recognition that ‘tax dollars are very hard to come by now’
Reading Time: 2 minutes It was cheque-cashing time for Alberta’s irrigation districts earlier this month as the provincial government announced $10 million in allocations through the Irrigation Rehabilitation Program (IRP) for the 2020-21 budget year. In place for over 50 years, the IRP is a 75-25 cost-share program between the province and Alberta’s irrigation districts. As its name suggests, […] Read more
Irrigation districts say they’re grateful for provincial funding
This year's allocation is smaller, but there's recognition that 'tax dollars are very hard to come by now'

Prairie cash wheat: Gains for CWRS, CPSR as durum drops
MarketsFarm — Wheat bids in Western Canada were higher for Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) and Canada Prairie Spring Red (CPSR) wheats the week ended Thursday. However, prices for Canada Western Amber Durum (CWAD) dropped. Support came from significant increases in Chicago, Minneapolis and Kansas City wheat futures, but a stronger Canadian dollar held back […] Read more

Feed weekly outlook: Grain prices soften into fall
MarketsFarm — Old-crop feed grain prices are converging with new-crop and coming under some seasonal pressure. “As we get closer to new crop, we’ve been seeing the switch to new-crop prices from old-crop,” said Erin Harakal, a senior trader with Agfinity in Lethbridge. Feed barley prices are around $195-$200 per tonne delivered in the Lethbridge […] Read more

ICE weekly outlook: How long can canola rally last?
MarketsFarm — Canola on ICE Futures has continued to push higher over the last week largely due to the growing strength in soyoil on the Chicago Board of Trade. “We got soyoil at a seven-month high and that’s certainly a supportive factor in continuing to underpin our market,” said Keith Ferley, a trader with RBC […] Read more

Klassen: Yearling prices on fire
Canada's cattle herd remains in contraction stage
Compared to last week, yearlings coming off grass traded $3-$5 higher; backgrounded yearlings were $1-$3 higher on average while calf markets were relatively unchanged. February and April live cattle futures closed marginally lower for the week; however, fed cattle basis levels from U.S. packers are very strong for winter and spring. This appears to be […] Read more

One in 10 ag societies could close their doors by next year
There’s been no government aid, revenues have fallen to near zero, and reserves have been used up
Reading Time: 4 minutes Two world wars couldn’t stop them. The Spanish flu couldn’t shut them down. But if government support doesn’t come soon, COVID-19 might do what those global crises couldn’t — close the doors forever on century-old agriculture societies across the country. “I’ll be honest, we have less than six months,” said Jenelle Saskiw, general manager of […] Read more
Canadian cannabis retailers poised to merge
High Tide, Meta Growth to create biggest weed retailer
Two major Canadian cannabis sellers are poised to create the largest pot retailer in the country by revenue. Calgary retailer High Tide Inc., which operates the Canna Cabana chain of stores in three provinces, announced a merger deal Friday to take up Toronto-based Meta Growth Corp., which runs the Meta Cannabis and NewLeaf Cannabis chains. […] Read more

Prairie cash wheat: Increases for CWRS and CPSR, durum steady
MarketsFarm — Cash wheat bids in Western Canada continued to build this week, on momentum from the previous week. Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) and Canada Prairie Red Spring (CPRS) wheats saw price increases for the week ended Thursday. Meanwhile, prices for Canada Western Amber Durum (CWAD) held steady. Support came from increases in Chicago, […] Read more

Olymel’s Red Deer plant holds at one COVID case
Pork plant employee's contacts returning to work
A production line employee at Olymel’s hog slaughter plant at Red Deer, Alta. remains the facility’s lone COVID-19 case after her contacts at the plant tested negative for the virus, the company says. Olymel, the meat packing arm of Quebec ag co-operative Sollio, confirmed the lone COVID-19 case at its Red Deer site on Aug. […] Read more

Feed weekly outlook: Early harvest pressures Alberta prices
MarketsFarm — Feed prices in Alberta took something of a tumble this week, Allen Pirness of Market Place Commodities in Lethbridge reported. Feed prices in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, meanwhile, were steady. “Six weeks ago we were seeing harvest, at best, at the end of August. With the heat wave that’s been upon us the last […] Read more