Alberta Seed Growers has new executive director

Reading Time: < 1 minute Kelly Chambers is the new executive director of the Alberta Seed Growers’ Association. Chambers has more than 30 years’ experience in the agriculture industry in Alberta and across Western Canada. “Kelly’s background in agricultural project research, co-ordination and group management will serve ASGA well as we work to drive forward our mandate and be active in […] Read more

The future’s so bright, you gotta wear shades

Reading Time: < 1 minute Peer past the gloom in the oilpatch and Alberta agriculture has a pretty good story to tell. That’s why Paterson Grain is currently building an elevator at Daysland and poised to start construction on another near Innisfail. “Producers in Alberta are some of the best in the world, and the land in Alberta is very […] Read more


Agriprocity’s marketing model connects grain farmers directly with food processors around the world, said CEO Nicole Rogers.

Precision agriculture for your marketing plan

As part of their marketing program for Canadian grain, Agriprocity targets 
food processors in emerging markets where they can’t grow their own grain

Reading Time: 3 minutes You’ve heard of precision agriculture for growing your crop — but what about for selling it? “We like to think of our little company as precision ag from the marketing side,” said Nicole Rogers, CEO of Agriprocity. “We’re marketing more precisely and allowing those buyers to be more integrated.” Agriprocity was founded 18 months ago […] Read more

New project supports rural Alberta women entrepreneurs

Online survey open until Feb. 29

Reading Time: < 1 minute A new initiative aims to identify barriers faced by rural Alberta women entrepreneurs in the regional food economy and then develop a pilot project to help overcome them. “Participating in regional food systems not only creates economic growth for a region, but also provides entrepreneurs an opportunity to create value-added food adding to the long-term […] Read more


When prices go south, options can save you major dough.

Expert says too many farmers working without a net

FarmTech: Fewer than one in 10 producers use options to set a floor price for their grain

Reading Time: 3 minutes Forget that old farm dog — options are a farmer’s best friend. “If you don’t have options in place, your tool box is not quite complete,” said David Derwin, an investment adviser with PI Financial. “If we can add a few more newer, sharper, better tools like options into the tool box, we’ve got a […] Read more

A quick and easy crystal ball? Popular books

Reading Time: < 1 minute Ever wonder if there’s a way to predict what’s going to happen in commodity markets? John DePutter has a quick and easy method that won’t cost you a cent. “Look at when oil was over $100 (a barrel),” the president of DePutter Publishing told attendees at FarmTech. “Books were on the shelves in Chapters saying the […] Read more


A Chinese ship being loaded with Brazilian soybeans last year captures three big factors affecting grain markets — China’s buying power, rock-bottom freight rates, and a hugely devaluated Brazilian currency. But that’s just the start of a long list.

Hang on, market turbulence ahead

FarmTech: Currency wars, actual wars, China, ocean freight, Russia, and oil are 
just a few of the things roiling grain markets these days

Reading Time: 4 minutes Tough times are here to stay. This was the message that Errol Anderson delivered to a silent, sombre room during a session at FarmTech. “There is no sense kidding ourselves about what is going on,” said Anderson, a market analyst and president of ProMarket Communications. “What we’re going through right now is a correction. There’s […] Read more

Wheat commission pricing website to roll out new features

Wheat commission pricing website to roll out new features

More information on crops and zones will be added in the next six to 12 months

Reading Time: 2 minutes Producers across Western Canada will soon have a new tool to help them make decisions on when to sell and get the best value for their grain. A website from the Alberta Wheat Commission called pdqinfo.ca is currently in test mode and will be rolling out new features over the coming year. The site — […] Read more