Crop commissions launch new mentorship program

Crop commissions launch new mentorship program

Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Wheat and Alberta Barley are launching a mentorship program to develop future leaders in the industry. The AdvancingAg Future Leaders Program, which held a “meet-and-greet” earlier this month in Red Deer, pairs selected mentees with an agricultural industry leader who will share their knowledge and expertise based on similar interests and career goals over […] Read more

There’s a worldwide glut of most major grains, but analysts are optimistic that Prairie farmers will see some price improvement this year. This photo shows workers loading soybeans in March for export to China.

Analysts see breaks in the clouds for Alberta producers this year

A global grain glut has been weighing on prices, but wheat, barley, and pulses could go higher — and canola will continue to shine

Reading Time: 3 minutes There’s a global grain glut, but it shouldn’t have a negative effect on Alberta crop producers come fall, say two market analysts. Although it’s early days yet, both were quick to add. “We’re at the stage of the year when there are more questions than answers,” said Chuck Penner of LeftField Commodity Research in Winnipeg. […] Read more


Having a more direct connection with end-users is “more exciting” 
than just selling a commodity product, says Penhold-area producer 
Wade McAllister.

This malt’s for you — growers profit from ‘drink local’ movement

Alberta barley growers earn premiums — and satisfaction — by direct contracting with brewers

Reading Time: 4 minutes Wade McAllister didn’t expect to be a direct marketer when he returned to his family’s grain farm in 2010. But with the demise of the Canadian Wheat Board in 2012, McAllister found a whole new market open to him — direct contracts with breweries for his malt barley. “Ever since the wheat board was dropped, […] Read more

The Canadian Grain Commission is proposing new fees that would halt accumulation of surplus.

Grain commission proposes 24 per cent cut to major user fees

But Alberta Barley wants fees eliminated for a year while Alberta Wheat wants better testing at elevators

Reading Time: 3 minutes The Canadian Grain Commission will cut its two major user fees Aug. 1 — but an Alberta farm group says it needs to do more to whittle down a massive surplus accumulated over the last three years. If implemented, the combined fees for officially inspecting and weighing ships exporting Canadian grain will drop by 44 […] Read more


A canola field in northwestern Saskatchewan on Oct. 5, 2016 after the area was blanketed by wet snow.  (Lisa Guenther photo)

StatsCan data confirm tight canola supplies

CNS Canada — Grain and oilseed stocks data released Friday from Statistics Canada were bullish for canola and wheat — though analysts suggest the effects of the report on the market may be short-lived. Figures for barley, lentils and peas were above year-ago levels, but movements in those markets are more likely be driven by […] Read more

There should be enough seed to go around, but the most popular varieties have been sold out for a while.

Seed will be available for late planting, say marketers

But popular varieties will be in short supply, and germination and fusarium are going to be key issues

Reading Time: 3 minutes Nearly a million acres of unharvested crops to deal with means late seeding will be common this year. But will there be enough seed to meet the demand? Yes, say marketing reps, but farmers need to act quickly and keep their expectations realistic. “This spring, more than ever, timing is going to be of the […] Read more


(Rahr.com)

Ameropa to shut malting barley trading firm Interbrau

Hamburg | Reuters — Swiss-based grain trading group Ameropa AG said Thursday it will end its involvement in malting barley trading and close its Hamburg-based malting barley trading house Interbrau GmbH at the end of 2017. “This decision is mainly driven by the fact that the malting barley market did not develop as Ameropa had […] Read more

Don’t delay if you haven’t lined up seed

Don’t delay if you haven’t lined up seed

All that rain last year has elevated fusarium levels and lowered germination rates

Reading Time: 3 minutes The quality of cereal seed in Alberta is down — and disease pressure is up — across almost all classes, say players at the front lines of the upcoming growing season’s seed outlook. “Disease levels are a little higher this year and that’s having an adverse effect on quality,” said Trevor Nysetvold of BioVision, a […] Read more


Fusarium graminearum produces DON or vomitoxin, which makes wheat unfit for milling and sees barley rejected for malt or even for feed.

Fusarium head blight infections hit record high in 2016

Almost one-quarter of cereal samples from 2016 have tested positive for fusarium head blight — a 10 per cent jump from 2014’s previous record high

Reading Time: 5 minutes Fusarium head blight continued its devastating march across Alberta last summer, and shows no sign of slowing down. “It’s become something that’s well established in the southern part of the province, and the situation is starting to change elsewhere in the province, especially central and northern Alberta,” said Kelly Turkington, a research scientist with Agriculture […] Read more

Farm groups welcome Ottawa’s research funding pledge

Farm groups welcome Ottawa’s research funding pledge

Agriculture Canada is giving positive signs that it will continue to invest in wheat and barley research

Reading Time: 3 minutes [UPDATED: Feb. 6, 2017] – Federal dollars are key to barley and wheat research in Alberta. Fortunately, there are a lot of signs that the Liberal government is willing to continue investing in it. “We’ve been happy with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada,” said Jason Lenz, chair of Alberta Barley Commission. The federal government has been […] Read more