Sask. farmers dry grain, wait on weather to resume harvest

Sask. farmers dry grain, wait on weather to resume harvest

Saskatchewan Crop Report for the week ending September 30

According to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s Weekly Crop Report 47 per cent of the crop is now combined, up from 39 per cent last week.  An early-winter storm slowed down most harvest operations in the province; however, producers were able to make some progress before the storm hit.  The five-year (2014-2018) average is 75 per cent combined […] Read more



A 2017 study maps out predictions for changes to the “water footprint” of rain-fed barley grown in agricultural Alberta. (Science of the Total Environment, March 2018)

University’s ‘Beefier Barley’ billboard binned

A billboard about Alberta barley’s prospects under climate change in the University of Alberta’s ‘Truth Matters’ promotion — a series of ads meant to spark discussion about its researchers’ work — has been winnowed out of the campaign. Jacqui Tam, the Edmonton-based U of A’s vice-president for university relations, announced Sunday it would withdraw the […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Yearling prices remain firm

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets were relatively unchanged with the exception of southern Alberta where 800-plus-lb. feeders traded $5 to as much as $8 higher. Strength in deferred live cattle futures and weakness in barley prices were the main factors driving demand in the Lethbridge area. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s bullish […] Read more


There was some spotty emergence with areas 
of poor stand establishment, especially in the 
low spots.

Crop advisor casebook: Patchy growth in canola presents a puzzle

A Crop Advisor's Solution from the September 24, 2019 issue of Grainews

The canola in Rob’s field had just emerged when he contacted me this past spring about concerns of insect pressure and a patchy plant stand. In addition to canola, Rob grows wheat, barley and peas on 2,500 acres near Wakaw, Sask. At the time of his request for me to visit his farm, the region […] Read more

The sprayer is the piece of farm equipment Bernie McClean can’t live without.

Meet your farming neighbours: Bernie and Cara McClean

Bernie and Cara McClean farm in northwest Saskatchewan

Every farm has its own story. No two farms (or farmers) are exactly alike. Everyone got started in a different way, and every farm has a different combination of family and hired staff who make the decisions and keep things running. But, in general, even after you consider all of the details, farmers are more […] Read more


A combine harvesting a canola crop.

Sask. producers resume harvest after break in wet weather

Saskatchewan Crop Report for the week ending September 23

A stretch of warm and relatively dry weather allowed most producers to return to the field and resume harvest operations last week, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s weekly Crop Report. Thirty-nine per cent of the crop is now in the bin, up from 23 per cent last week but remaining well behind the five-year (2014-2018) average […] Read more

Three main factors will weigh on calf prices this fall.

Beef demand heads into the slow months

Market Update with Jerry Klassen: Be prepared, as the high yearling market only has one way to go

Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in the range of $140 to $143 during the first half of September. The market has come under pressure due to the year over year increase in market-ready feed supplies. In addition to the higher beef production, beef demand is moving through a seasonal low. During September and October […] Read more


Barley south of Ethelton, Sask. in early August 2017. (File photo by Dave Bedard)

Feed weekly outlook: Barley’s slide slows as harvest drags

MarketsFarm — The slide in western Canadian feed grain prices over the past few months shows signs of slowing, as concerns over harvest delays supplant earlier concerns over large crops and quality downgrades. “The weather over the next week or so doesn’t look that great,” Allen Pirness of Market Place Commodities in Lethbridge said Thursday. […] Read more

(File photo)

Feed weekly outlook: Market not bottomed yet

MarketsFarm — Falling feed grain prices in Western Canada have not hit the bottom just yet, especially as harvest delays lead to quality downgrades. “I would say it’s coming down quite a bit more,” said Mike Fleischhauer of Eagle Commodities in Lethbridge. The barley and wheat harvests are running behind normal in both Saskatchewan and […] Read more