Cereals & Production Tips

Getting info and seeding early

It is the time of year to gather knowledge and make your plans for the coming season

By Brian Wittal February 21, 2018

January is the busiest month of the year for ag trade shows, conferences, updates and industry meetings. You could spend the entire month traveling across the Prairies attending sessions. I attended the inaugural Cereals Innovation Symposium in Red Deer, Alta., hosted by the Alberta Wheat Commission, and heard some very interesting speakers. Scientists talked about […] Read more

SR14501, a new six-row hulled spring feed and forage barley variety,  should soon be in farmers’ fields.

Barley, Crops, Features

“Incredible” new barley variety

This new higher-yielding, six-row barley  variety is on the road to certification

By Julienne Isaacs February 21, 2018

A new six-row hulled spring feed and forage barley variety should soon be in farmers’ fields. SR14501 — which will gain a trade name prior to commercialization — was developed by Alberta’s Field Crop Development Centre in response to producers’ requests for a barley with good lodging resistance, says barley breeder Joseph Nyachiro. “It is […] Read more

Barley, Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Stronger fed cattle prices jolt feeder market

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News February 20, 2018

Feeder cattle markets came alive last week as fed cattle prices took a fortuitous bounce. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in the range of $276-$279 on a dressed basis, up approximately $4 from week-ago levels. Improving beef demand enhanced wholesale beef prices, which quickly spilt over into the cattle complex. Compared to last week, […] Read more

Crops, Markets, Spring Wheat, Winter Wheat

Prairie wheat bids mixed while U.S. futures rise

By GFM Network News February 16, 2018

CNS Canada — Wheat bids in Western Canada were mixed for the week ended Thursday, while U.S. wheat futures rose. Depending on the location, average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS, 13.5 per cent protein) wheat prices were mixed in Western Canada with some unchanged and others rising by $1-$2, according to price quotes from a […] Read more

Cereals, Corn, Crops

Feed weekly outlook: Supplies tighten as demand rises

By GFM Network News February 15, 2018

CNS Canada — As supplies tighten, Lethbridge feedlots are looking for the cheapest options when it comes to feed. “Supply seems to be tight in general. There’s not a lot of offers on either corn or barley at the moment. And demand is higher than expected coming into March,” said Brandon Motz, sales manager at […] Read more

Mature winter wheat. (Allan Dawson photo)

Crops, Weather, Winter Wheat

Prairie winter wheat conditions no cause for alarm, yet

By GFM Network News February 13, 2018

CNS Canada — While it’s been a cold winter with little snow cover, there is still hope for the Prairies’ winter wheat crop as soil temperatures haven’t hit danger levels yet. “I checked the soil temperatures this morning across the Prairies and most of the soils are about -10 C and winter wheat at this […] Read more

Barley, Corn, Crops, Markets, Spring Wheat

Feed weekly outlook: Alberta prices see wide range

By GFM Network News February 8, 2018

CNS Canada — A tale of two markets is emerging in Alberta as feed users in the south take advantage of cheap corn trucked in from Manitoba, while users farther north pay higher prices. “As far as Red Deer north goes, it’s quite different than feedlot alley,” said Joseph Billett, general manager of Agfinity in […] Read more

When I dug up some seeds, I could see they had germinated, but the seedlings were yellow and kinked.

Cereals, Crops, Features

Crop Advisor Casebook: Did John’s durum seed get burned by fertilizer?

A Crop Advisor's Solution from the February 6, 2018 issue of Grainews

By Jessica Siemens February 7, 2018

John’s durum crop got off to a rocky start last spring with poor seedling emergence. John farms 16,000 acres of canola, durum, spring wheat, barley, peas and lentils near Stirling, Alta. Early on, the stand was thin and patchy, which became more prevalent as the plants got bigger. Since the spring, I’d been keeping an […] Read more

Corn, Crops, Markets, Soybeans, Winter Wheat

CBOT weekly outlook: Futures get weather boost

By GFM Network News January 31, 2018

CNS Canada — The troublesome weather that gave Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) corn, soybean and wheat contracts a boost over the past week should remain supportive, despite nearby technical setbacks, according to a trader. “I’m still slightly bullish on beans, corn and wheat given the unfavourable weather situation in South America, with too much […] Read more

Crops, Markets, Oats

Cash oats steady despite climb in futures

By GFM Network News January 25, 2018

CNS Canada — Oats futures at the Chicago Board of Trade have posted solid gains over the past month, but the cash market in Western Canada remains steady overall. “It’s been a nice little rally up,” said Scott Shiels, grain procurement manager with Grain Millers Canada on the 35 U.S. cents per bushel rise in […] Read more

Daily Network News

Southern California honeybees show resistance to varroa mites

Pulse Weekly: SaskPulse optimistic despite input, crop price concerns

Canadian aquaculture should be classed as agriculture, industry groups say

Cereals