Western Canada Archives | Alberta Farmer Express

Oats. (Doug Wilson photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Oats riding high with other crops

By Adam Peleshaty, GFM Network News March 19, 2021

MarketsFarm — Increased demand, both domestically and overseas, has caused the price of oats grown in Western Canada to rise compared to last year. And so far, seeding projections and rising prices for other crops suggest the market for oats won’t go down anytime soon. According to Prairie Ag Hotwire data from Wednesday, high-delivered bids […] Read more

A container terminal at the Port of Vancouver. (FangXiaNuo/E+/Canada)

Crops

Grain handler group seeks Vancouver port governance overhaul

The WGEA, whose members ship most of Western Canada's grain, complain the port is in a conflict of interest as both developer and regulator

By Allan Dawson, GFM Network News February 18, 2021

Vancouver, Canada’s biggest port and the most important to Western Canada’s economy, needs major changes in how it operates, the Western Grain Elevator Association (WGEA) says. As a statutory monopoly the port authority is both a port developer and regulator putting it in a conflict of interest, according to WGEA executive director Wade Sobkowich. “We […] Read more

Forecast probability of above-normal precipitation for the period from December 2020 through February 2021. (Environment Canada)

General, Weather

Seasonal forecast calls for more snow

By MarketsFarm Team, GFM Network News December 1, 2020

MarketsFarm — Most of Canada should see above-normal snowfall over the next three months, according to updated seasonal forecasts released Monday from Environment Canada. Weather maps show a 40 to 60 per cent probability of more precipitation than normal across much of the country from December through February, with the heaviest accumulations expected in Quebec. […] Read more

Barley, Crops, Markets

Feed weekly outlook: Prairie grain market steady, for now

By Phil Franz-Warkentin, GFM Network News November 6, 2020

MarketsFarm — The feed grain market in Western Canada remains firm for the time being, but the uncertainty of outside influences makes it difficult to predict where values will go from here. “It is so hard to gauge,” said Susanne Leclerc, owner of Market Master Ltd. in Edmonton, adding “I don’t think anybody can predict […] Read more

Weather

No repeat of the ‘harvest from hell,’ says weather forecaster

By Alberta Farmer Staff August 26, 2020

Reading Time: < 1 minute The fall harvest season will be somewhat wetter than normal but nothing like last year, according to AccuWeather. There is also a low risk for an early freeze, meteorologist and Canada weather expert Brett Anderson said in the company’s fall forecast on Aug. 14. “The latest signals favour most regions having a low risk of […] Read more

Canola, Crops

Canola shipments boost Thunder Bay port activity

By MarketsFarm Team, GFM Network News October 5, 2019

MarketsFarm — Cargo movement through the Port of Thunder Bay is running ahead of the previous year’s pace, with some of the extra movement tied to increased canola exports to Europe, according to the latest data from the port authority. Total cargo movement in September of 1.1 million tonnes compares with the 919,386 tonnes reported […] Read more

Barley, Beef Cattle, Cereals, Corn, Crops, Markets, Spring Wheat

Feed weekly outlook: Prices fall with rain

By Glen Hallick - MarketsFarm June 28, 2019

Feed grain prices for Lethbridge’s feedlot alley took a tumble after parts of the Prairies received some much-needed rain. Jim Beusekom, president of Market Place Commodities in Lethbridge, said barley and wheat prices recently dropped. Barley was around $285-$290 per tonne in the area, down about $10 from the week ending June 21. Wheat was […] Read more

ICE July 2019 canola with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

Canola, Crops, Markets

ICE weekly outlook: Weather, politics in focus for canola trade

By Phil Franz-Warkentin - MarketsFarm June 26, 2019

MarketsFarm — ICE Futures canola contracts fell to their lowest levels in a month during the week ended Wednesday as much-needed moisture also fell across much of Western Canada. While there are still plenty of areas of concern, the rain has taken some of the weather premium out of the market, said Jonathon Driedger of […] Read more

Kansas City September 2019 hard red wheat with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

Crops, Markets, Reuters, Weather

U.S. grains: Wheat rises on global weather worries

By Karl Plume June 24, 2019

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures climbed nearly two per cent on Monday due to weather-damaged crops in key production areas around the world, while corn and soybeans firmed as wet U.S. Midwest conditions stoked concerns about reduced harvests. Some optimism that U.S.-China trade talks may get back on track also underpinned markets. The […] Read more

Precipitation percentiles on the Prairies for the period of April 1 to May 23, 2019. (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Drought Watch)

Crops, Pasture, Weather

Prairie dryness concerns to persist

By Phil Franz-Warkentin - MarketsFarm May 24, 2019

MarketsFarm — Large areas of Western Canada remain on the dry side, with little moisture in the immediate forecasts. And while it’s still early in the growing season, the interplay of conflicting patterns from the south and north will determine whether the dry areas receive timely precipitation during the growing season. “We are looking at […] Read more

B.C. again waives ag income threshold for farm properties

Flea beetles a nuisance for canola crop

Businesses, U.S. legislators fume as Canada extends travel ban

GFM Network News