Photo: File

Early harvest pressures Prairie barley prices

CNS Canada — Barley prices in Western Canada are falling as an early harvest is weighing on values. “Prices have moderated here,” said Allen Pirness of Market Place Commodities Ltd. Lethbridge, Alta. The surprise rally from last week ended as quickly as it began. Prices which started last week at about C$250 per tonne were […] Read more


The Hiltons operate a fifth-generation farm near Strathmore, Alta.

From barley seeding to beer sipping

Long-time Alberta farmers tap into vertical integration with malt barley

The photo above may look like some Alberta grain farmers taking a break in a barley field, but they are really brewery executives collecting inventory for an inter-national microbrewing industry. These are members of the Hilton family (Hilton Ventures) a fifth-generation farm near Strathmore, Alta., (just east of Calgary) and they are farmers having a […] Read more






(Dave Bedard photo)

Canadian canola area likely above earlier projection

CNS Canada — Canadian farmers likely seeded more canola in 2018 than initial expectations, but industry participants generally expect to see only minor adjustments when Statistics Canada releases its latest acreage estimates on Friday. “Our idea is that the canola seeded area number is higher than initially reported,” said Jon Driedger of FarmLink Marketing Solutions. […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Stronger demand sustains feeder cattle market

Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were relatively unchanged from week-ago levels. Feeder cattle numbers are declining at this time of year, so those buyers looking to secure ownership had to be more aggressive. Higher-quality packages were available in Saskatchewan, which traded at a small premium to Alberta markets. In central and southern Alberta, there appeared […] Read more


Combine to Customer participants take a look at the equipment in the pulse mill during a tour led by 
Shelley Lagasse, a pulse and special crops technologist with Cigi.

Getting from combine to customer

This Cigi program is a great way for farmers to learn more about ag markets

At the end of Heather Johnson’s first day of work for the Canadian International Grains Institute (Cigi), her colleagues rolled out a fresh rack of bread for everyone to enjoy. “Boy, have I landed in the right place,” she said to herself that day. Johnson, Cigi’s director of communications, was speaking to Combine to Customer […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feedlots struggle through adverse weather

Western Canadian yearling prices experienced a week-over-week decline of $5-$8 with some pockets deteriorating $10 to as much as $12. Adverse weather in southern Alberta has resulted in limited buying interest from main feedlot operators. Feedlot Alley has received 150-200 per cent of normal precipitation over the past 60 days. Snow and rain, along with […] Read more