CNS Canada – Many questions remain about Western Canada’s malt barley crop, but many analysts appear to expect at least an adequate harvest. Quality concerns and yield reductions will hit farmers in southern areas, but for those with good quality, prices should remain at least steady for the medium term. While analysts cautioned that forecasts […] Read more
Malt barley outlook promising, but harvest quality will be key
Unseeded acres create ripple effect in the number of insured acres this summer
Insured barley and pea acres are down, but canola, lentil, and hemp acres went up
Reading Time: 3 minutes Two years of rough weather conditions haven’t been enough to drive producers to increase their crop insurance coverage. “I don’t think there’s a huge change in the overall level of insurance participation. The reasons people participate aren’t always dependent on the weather,” said Jesse Cole, research analyst at Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC). “There could […] Read more
Get the lowdown on grain grading
Workshop in Olds on July 27
Reading Time: < 1 minute [UPDATED: July 24, 2017]*: The Making the Grade workshop will be held at Olds College on July 27. Producers will participate in hands-on grading workshops for barley, canola, wheat, and pulses. Speakers from the Canadian Grains Commission, Cigi, and the Canola Council of Canada will guide participants through the details of grading parameters and practices. As […] Read more
Prairie wheat, barley commissions’ single checkoffs set
The post-deregulation era of Prairie grain research and market development funding is cleared to begin, as the three Prairie provinces’ wheat and barley commissions have set new single checkoffs on Prairie wheat and barley, all starting Aug. 1. The Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association (MWBGA) on Wednesday announced that when the Western Canadian Deduction […] Read more
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
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
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
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
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
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
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