NEAR PERFECT TO DISASTROUS As I write this, we’re well into May and the weather has turned very cold. On the plus side, many areas of Alberta have wrapped up seeding and parts of western Saskatchewan could actually use a nice rain. I’ve actually heard some farmers mutter that they seeded into “nearly perfect” conditions. […] Read more
Wheat &Chaff – for Jun. 6, 2011
Cattle Prices Lower In Summer
The cattle market appears to be heading lower into summer as consumer buying is unable to sustain the higher price structure. Despite the Memorial Day surge in demand, the beef and cattle markets remain under pressure. Ground beef prices continue to edge higher on the retail shelf but higher valued cuts are the same as […] Read more
Wheat &Chaff – for May. 2, 2011
DOWN TO BUSINESS By the time you read this, our new prime minister will have been named. While politicians love to put all the emphasis on the election, the real work starts now. Whether the person you voted for won the riding or not, your MP is still your MP, for better or for worse. […] Read more
Cattle Prices Levelling Off
Cattle prices appear to be consolidating at the higher levels as demand wanes. Retail beef prices have made new record highs over the past month and consumer purchases are starting to slow. Despite slower domestic consumption, offshore exports continue to increase with U.S. sales to South Korea sharply higher over year ago levels. Alberta fed […] Read more
Wheat &Chaff – for Apr. 4, 2011
THE VALUE OF TECHNOLOGY The world can really knock you down if you let it. As I write this, a near blizzard is raging out my door (and it’s late March, for crying out loud) adding insult to injury on our already snow-laden fields; the fallout and devastation from Japan’s earthquake is all over the […] Read more
Cattle Prices Ratcheting Higher
Fed cattle prices continue to trend higher as the beef market functions to ration demand. Wholesale beef prices reached the highest level since 2003 with choice product touching $178/cwt. Retail prices are approximately 15 per cent higher than year-ago levels and will likely increase another 10 per cent over the next three to six months. […] Read more
Wheat &Chaff – for Mar. 21, 2011
NUTRIENT-DENSE SEED How do you decide what seed to save for planting? Is this an after-the- fact decision, or do you grow a specific variety/seed lot on a specific piece of land, knowing you’ll likely save the seed? It’s a question that had been rattling around in my brain for some time, and so last […] Read more
Wheat &Chaff – for Mar. 14, 2011
BEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK Articles end up inGrainews in one of two ways: either I notice a particular topic or have a curiosity about something and ask a writer to tackle it; or writers out on the landscape let me know what they’re thinking of covering and I say yes or no. It’s rare, […] Read more
Demand Keeps Prices Strong
North American cattle prices continue to trade near historical highs. Despite an increase in beef production, stronger domestic and export demand has caused fed and feeder cattle prices to trend higher throughout the winter. Alberta slaughter cattle have traded in the range of $106/cwt to $108/ cwt during February. At the same time, fed cattle […] Read more
wheat &Chaff – for Mar. 7, 2011
CANOLA SEED SELECTION Unlike cereals, farmers are quick to try out new varieties. The pace of canola seed companies’ new offerings is unheard of for wheat, oats and barley, mainly because of differences in plant physiology and, arguably, investment structure. Also unlike cereals, successful canola production hinges on slight changes in several production variables — […] Read more
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