Reading Time: < 1 minute Agriculture Financial Services Corporation has made six enhancements to the AgriInsurance programs, including a first of its kind malt barley insurance product. The corporation, provincial and federal governments, and producer groups worked together to make the enhancements based on producer feedback. The malt barley insurance will have a premium price compared to feed barley, but […] Read more
Crop insurance rates down in 2016
Malt barley insurable for the first time and organic production is also eligible for coverage this year
Feed barley due for spring rally
CNS Canada –– Feed barley in Western Canada usually sees a spring rally at this time of year, although the uptrend this year will be limited by large supplies still overhanging the market. Feed grains had trended lower through late February and into early March, with feed wheat leading to the downside. Losses in feed […] Read more
Don’t let down your guard when it comes to fusarium
Provincial crop specialist says seed testing and using seed treatment are critical
Reading Time: 2 minutes Fusarium head blight outbreaks can cause significant losses in grain yield and grain quality, while also resulting in the production of mycotoxin-Deoxynyvalenol that affects livestock feed, the baking and milling quality of wheat and the malting and brewing qualities of malt barley. That’s why producers need to be vigilant, even if its rate of infection […] Read more
Save on winter cattle feeding costs
Feeding oats or barley along with straw can be much cheaper than hay
Reading Time: 2 minutes Switching from hay to a combination of straw and grain prior to calving can save about $350 a head during the winter, says provincial beef and forage specialist Barry Yaremcio. “The question then becomes: Is it cheaper to feed oats or barley to the cows?” The answer to that question depends on the price and […] Read more
No ‘silver bullets’ for fusarium — but you can reduce your risk
Longer crop rotations, resistant varieties, and — as a last resort — fungicides are the partial weapons in a weak arsenal
Reading Time: 4 minutes When it comes to fusarium head blight, cereal growers tend to suffer from NIMBY syndrome — ‘not in my backyard.’ “Over the years, we’ve heard many comments that ‘it’s a Manitoba problem — it’ll never be a problem here in Alberta,’” federal research scientist Kelly Turkington said at the recent Agronomy Update conference. “But in […] Read more
Trade deal could be a ‘huge’ shot in the arm for barley acres
Barley acres have been plunging, but the Pacific trade pact could be a game changer
Reading Time: 3 minutes Barley could get a major boost from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement. “The potential to value add on a feed product, which is usually considered to be the bottom end of the market, is huge here, and that’s much better than exporting a raw product,” said Doug Robertson, president of the Western Barley Growers Association. […] Read more
A crop year that doesn’t look better in the rear-view mirror
Yields could have been worse and quality is pretty good, but this is a year distinctly lacking in high points
Reading Time: 3 minutes Harvest 2015 is, finally, a wrap and the storyline is pretty much the same across most of the province — yields are poor but not as bad as feared, and quality is surprisingly good. The final crop report from Alberta Agriculture and Forestry says yield estimates are higher than first forecast earlier in the summer. […] Read more
Feed: Corn awaiting USDA, Sask. barley yields near average
CNS Canada –– Following are a few highlights in the Canadian and world feed grains markets on Friday, Oct. 9. • CBOT corn futures were posting small gains Friday morning, but were holding rangebound overall as traders were squaring positions ahead of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s monthly supply/demand report due out later in the […] Read more
Dawson: Ag exporters applaud historic TPP deal
Export-oriented Canadian farmers are giving the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement reached in Atlanta on Monday two thumbs up. The deal, which remains to be debated in Canada’s House of Commons and could take more than a year to be ratified by all 12 member countries, will see tariffs on Canadian products in those markets eliminated […] Read more
Alberta Barley seeking directors and delegates for upcoming elections
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Barley is asking barley farmers to stand for upcoming director elections. “I first joined Alberta Barley as a delegate to learn about my industry,” said chairman Mike Ammeter. “Over the years, I have learned how important it is for farmers to have input in the decisions that affect their livelihood. That’s why we are […] Read more
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