Forecaster Drew Lerner speaks at Ag Days 2020 in Brandon. (Manitoba Co-operator photo by Alexis Stockford)

Favourable growing conditions forecast for major ag regions

MarketsFarm — Canadian producers looking for challenging growing conditions elsewhere in the world to prop up commodity prices may be disappointed during the 2020 growing season. South America “If you’re looking for any help from South America for your canola or soybeans or corn, you’d better look somewhere else,” Drew Lerner, president of World Weather […] Read more

Barley south of Ethelton, Sask. on July 30, 2019. (Dave Bedard photo)

Prairie barley groups back new research funding arm

The three Prairie barley growers’ groups are taking a more “collaborative” approach to longer-term national and regional research work on barley breeding. SaskBarley, Alberta Barley and the Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association on Monday launched what they’ve dubbed the Canadian Barley Research Coalition (CBRC), following a path similar to that of the three provincial […] Read more


Bishop stays on as chair of Alberta Barley

Reading Time: < 1 minute Dave Bishop will continue as chair of Alberta Barley for a second year. Bishop, who farms near Barons, is entering his final year on the farm group’s board. Wade McAllister, who farms near Innisfail, will serve as vice-chair. He joined the board a year ago and said “taking on a leadership role in the barley […] Read more

Malt barley recommendations for 2020

Malt barley recommendations for 2020

Reading Time: < 1 minute AAC Connect and CDC Bow have made the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre’s short list of recommended varieties for the coming year. The duo joins longtime favourites CDC Copeland, AAC Synergy, and AC Metcalfe on the short list. Those three accounted for 88 per cent of insured Alberta barley acres in 2019 — Copeland was […] Read more



(File photo)

Feed weekly outlook: Prairie market stable heading into New Year

MarketsFarm — Western Canadian feed grain markets are showing some stability heading into the New Year, as buyers have generally booked coverage over the holiday season. “Everybody is just waiting to see what will happen,” said Mike Fleischhauer of Eagle Commodities in Lethbridge. While large amounts of tough grain were moving, he said there was […] Read more


Canola in swath near Starbuck, Man. on Aug. 10, 2019. (MarketsFarm photo by Glen Hallick)

StatsCan report puts canola production at lowest since 2015

MarketsFarm — Data from Statistics Canada’s production of principal field crops report, released Friday morning, will likely be supportive of canola values, put pressure on barley, and keep wheat prices steady. In the report, canola production across Canada decreased by 8.3 per cent nationally to 18.6 million tonnes, compared to 2018 production volumes. The decreased […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Trade’s crop estimates vary ahead of StatsCan report

MarketsFarm — Barley and canola production expectations vary ahead of Statistics Canada’s production of principal field crops report, due out Friday. In September, the federal agency estimated Canada’s barley production to total just less than 10 million tonnes, two million higher than the final count for the 2018-19 growing year. However, some trade estimates are […] Read more