(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Domestic grain prices slipping

Prairie wheat, barley on par with U.S. corn

MarketsFarm – Feed wheat and barley prices in Western Canada have slowly trended lower over the past few months, with prices for both grains now on par with imported corn from the U.S. into Alberta’s key Lethbridge feedlot alley. All three grains are trading at around $410 per tonne into Lethbridge, according to Jim Beusekom, […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Little change in barley acres expected

Malt barley prices mainly steady

MarketsFarm — As spring planting approaches, Peter Watt of the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre (CMBTC) said there likely won’t be a big shift in barley acres that will be planted in 2023. “Producers have made their [planting] decisions for the most part. You might see people adjust their plans a little bit based on […] Read more


bull

Getting bulls prepped for breeding season

Bulls in optimum body condition have high sperm count and sex drive at breeding

Beef bulls are prepared in different ways before the upcoming breeding season. Some are ignored, maybe left on some distant stubble field or in a drylot pen, and inadequately fed. Other bulls are fed too well, so they waddle with fat. The rest are properly prepared for the breeding season, putting them in the best […] Read more

Barley. (Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Grains wait for demand to pick up

Trucking availability still seen as an issue, but less of one

MarketsFarm — As feed barley continued to sit in a lull, there have been some increases in feed wheat, according to Brandon Motz of CorNine Commodities at Lacombe, Alta. “There’s a little of downward pressure on barley,” Motz said, noting demand for it is expected to soon pick up. Feed wheat prices have increased recently, […] Read more


There will be a sharp year- over-year decline in U.S. beef production in the second quarter of 2023.

Lower cattle supplies will be the theme for 2023

Market Update with Jerry Klassen: Consumers keep buying despite inflation and high interest rates

As of mid-February, Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in a live basis in the range of $195-$196/cwt delivered, up $10/cwt from 30 days earlier. The market had been percolating higher due to tighter supplies of market-ready fed cattle. Dressed cattle marketing weights have been declining on both sides of the border, giving the feedlot […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Corn the choice crop in feedlots

'Bigger feedlots are looking for volume'

MarketsFarm — Copious amounts of corn are still being delivered to feedlots in southern Alberta despite slowly declining prices for other feed grains. “Corn is coming down over the last little bit,” Mike Fleischhauer of Eagle Commodities Ltd. in Lethbridge said. “You think that there would be a little bit more barley hitting the market. […] Read more


The HarvestLab grain sensor can be retrofitted to 2018 and newer John Deere S700 series combines to provide real-time grain quality data when harvesting.

Measure grain protein on the go

John Deere’s HarvestLab offers new features for grain growers

Most grain producers have spent time at an elevator waiting to find out the protein level of a truckload of wheat after delivering it. That, of course, makes a difference to the size of cheque the elevator manager is willing to write. Today, John Deere is taking the suspense out of that wait by making […] Read more

A senior manager for the Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions, says the PMRA ruling that lambda-cyhalothrin can’t be used on crops for livestock feed is unworkable.

How to manage without lambda-cyhalothrin in 2023

Alternatives to control most insect pests exist but attention to label recommendations, product rates and timing is important

As of mid-February, if western Canadian farmers want to control common crop insect pests such as grasshoppers and flea beetles in 2023, they should plan to do it without the use of popular lambda-cyhalothrin products such as Matador and Silencer. Those products and others based on the lambda-cy active ingredient aren’t banned, but Health Canada’s […] Read more


Chad, Britny, Lila, Kate and Ruby with their John Deere S670 combine.

Efficiency is the No. 1 priority on the Andrews Farm

Prairie Farms: Strategic partnerships support productivity

The Prairie Farms feature will be an ongoing series that highlights western Canadian producers and their farm operations. These producer and farm profiles will share the strategies, tips and experiences that have helped Prairie farmers be successful. Along with crop production strategies, this Q-and-A series will look at the personalities and lifestyles of farmers across […] Read more

Photo: File

Feed weekly outlook: Barley exports slowing down, local prices steady

Feedlots relatively well covered

MarketsFarm — Canadian barley exports slowed down in January, but out-of-country movement is still running ahead of the year-ago pace, according to updated export data from the Canadian Grain Commission. Canada exported 131,100 tonnes of barley from licensed facilities in January, with China the top customer taking 100,500 tonnes. Total barley exports were well off […] Read more