MarketsFarm — Wheat bids in Western Canada were mixed during the week ended Friday, with gains observed in Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat and losses in Canada Prairie Spring Red (CPSR). Canada Western Amber Durum (CWAD), meanwhile, was steady to lower. Average CWRS (13.5 per cent) wheat prices were up by $2-$7 per tonne, […] Read more
Prairie cash wheat: Bids mixed
Durum steady to lower
Klassen: Weather, COVID, feed grains pressure feeder market
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were $2-$4 lower on average; calves traded $2 to as much as $6 below week-ago levels. Southern Alberta received its first snowfall of the season last week, which hindered demand for fresh replacements. Feedlots always incorporate a risk discount when the first snowfall of the year materializes, […] Read more
Alberta gives oil and gas drillers municipal tax break
Reuters — Struggling oil and gas companies in Alberta will get a three-year break on municipal property taxes for land where they are drilling wells or building pipelines, the provincial government said on Monday. The Alberta government said it would also lower property tax assessments on less-productive wells and eliminate a provincial tax on drills. […] Read more
Prairie cash wheat: Prices up on sharp rises in U.S. wheat
MarketsFarm — Wheat bids in Western Canada were higher for Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS), Canada Prairie Spring Red (CPSR) and Canada Western Amber Durum (CWAD) wheats for the week ended Thursday. Support came from double-digit increases in Chicago, Minneapolis and Kansas City wheat futures. Meanwhile, the Canadian dollar was relatively steady. Average CWRS (13.5 […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market digests rising COVID-19 cases
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were relatively unchanged while calves traded steady to $2 lower on average. The grain harvest is in its final stages and buying interest was noted from the farmer/backgrounding operator. The buying frenzy over yearlings has eased and finishing feedlots were active on all weight categories. Feather-light calves […] Read more
Federal fund, Alberta government back irrigation upgrades
Infrastructure Bank lends cash for system improvements
Eight irrigation districts in Alberta are set to tap into the Canada Infrastructure Bank’s new $1.5 billion pool of funding earmarked for irrigation, to receive loans worth about $407.5 million. The Alberta and federal governments on Friday announced a total investment of $815 million — including repayable CIB funds, provincial support and irrigation district contributions […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Above-average year for yellow, green peas
MarketsFarm — It was a pretty good year for yellow and green peas, according to Allan Johnston of Johnston Grains at Welwyn, Sask. “The weather was so good and the harvest was so good. Everybody got their crops off in excellent shape,” he said. The most recent weekly crop reports from Manitoba and Saskatchewan indicated […] Read more
Klassen: Rising feed grains pressure feeder market
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $3-$6 lower with some reports showing prices as much as $10 lower. Calves traded $2-$4 below week-ago levels; however, the market will be more defined next week, with many auction barns scheduling feature calf sales in the major feeding areas of Alberta. Feeding margins in the […] Read more
Federal program to protect farms, workers from COVID-19 underway
'Highest-risk' farming operations to get priority, Bibeau says
Applications are now open for a federally-administered $35 million emergency on-farm support fund to help limit the impacts of COVID-19 on farms and on-farm workers. Aimed at farm workplaces and employee living quarters, the fund is being managed by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), but cost-shared with participating producers at a 50-50 level. Money is […] Read more
Prairie cash wheat: Bids mostly stronger
MarketsFarm — Wheat bids in Western Canada were mostly higher during the week ended Friday, with a mostly firmer tone in U.S. futures countered by strength in the Canadian dollar. Average CWRS (Canada Western Red Spring, 13.5 per cent protein) wheat prices were up by as much as $5 per tonne, although Manitoba bids edged […] Read more