Excerpt from a digital rendition of Cargill’s proposed $350 million canola crushing plant proposed for the Regina area. (Image courtesy Cargill)

Cargill to crush canola at Regina

New plant to process up to one million tonnes per year

The Canadian arm of agrifood giant Cargill plans to further expand its reach in the Prairie canola market with a new crush plant at Regina and upgrades elsewhere. The company announced Thursday it would start construction on the $350 million plant “early next year” and expects to have it operating by early 2024, employing about […] Read more



CBOT May 2021 soyoil with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

CBOT weekly outlook: Futures very likely to remain on upswing

Soyoil driving crop commodity gains

MarketsFarm — As prices rise on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT), the opportunity for profit-taking becomes more prevalent. That said, values are very likely to continue increasing overall going into the week of April 26, according to analyst Terry Reilly of Futures International in Chicago. “By the end of this week, I do expect […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Slight adjustments in AAFC’s April supply/demand report

MarketsFarm — Updated supply and demand estimates from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, released Tuesday, included only minor adjustments to balance sheets for most major crops. Statistics Canada releases its first survey-based acreage estimates for the upcoming growing season on Tuesday next week (April 27), which should lead to adjustments in subsequent supply/demand projections. Canola ending […] Read more


Loading grain on a vessel at a Burrard Inlet terminal. (Maxvis/iStock/Getty Images)

Grain, oilseed exports at strong pace

MarketsFarm — Canadian grain and oilseed exports continue at a strong pace, with movement of canola, wheat and barley all running well ahead of the year-ago pace. Crop-year-to-date exports of Canada’s major grains and oilseeds as of Sunday came in at 37.78 million tonnes, according to Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) data. That’s up by roughly […] Read more

Building soil health for future generations is the main goal on Tim Nerbas’ farm in Waseca, Sask. Nerbas took the first steps toward improving soil health on NRG Farms more than 20 years ago when he made the decision to eliminate tillage entirely. Some of the farmland had not been tilled for more than 30 years. From there, he focused on crop variety and diversity and constant cover, which he sees as crucial to soil health.

Soil health management on Harvest Moon and NRG farms

Alberta and Saskatchewan producers discuss soil care

Since an unexpected disaster in 2017, in many respects, Alberta farmer Andy Kirschenman has had to start over. In October of that year, a massive fire ripped through Harvest Moon Farm. The Kirschenmans lost their house, a shed, a combine, quite a bit of equipment and most of the trees in the shelterbelt. But the […] Read more


ICE July 2021 canola (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, dark yellow and green lines). (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: For canola, the only certainty is volatility

"The market has to feel comfortable there’s a crop on the way"

MarketsFarm — After starting this week with losses, canola bounced back with back-to-back gains, raising prices by more than $20 per tonne for old-crop after falling back $4-$5 on Monday. Errol Anderson, an analyst with ProMarket Communications in Calgary, emphasized there will be a good amount of volatility in the markets, with wide swings possible […] Read more

Chain Lakes Farms is located east of the town of Ponoka, Alta. This photo was taken during harvest.

Meet your farming neighbours: Mike and Wanda Stretch

The Stretch family farms 4,200 acres near Ponoka, Alta.

Every farm has a story and no two are alike. Its origins, how it operates and who has a hand in its success are unique. This is the story of Mike and Wanda Stretch and Chain Lakes Farms, located in central Alberta. Where do the Stretches farm? The farm is located 13 kilometres east of […] Read more



ICE May 2021 canola with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: Canola fundamentals still strong in volatile market

MarketsFarm — ICE Futures canola contracts moved higher during the week ended Wednesday, with the largest gains in the old-crop months amid ongoing concerns over tight supplies. Day-to-day activity could remain volatile at times, but underlying fundamentals should remain supportive heading into the 2021 growing season, according to an analyst. While canola futures have traded […] Read more