Southwestern Saskatchewan MP David Anderson (centre), shown here last year visiting Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s research facility at Swift Current, is the federal Tories’ new agriculture critic. (DavidAnderson.ca)

Anderson named federal Tories’ ag critic in shuffle

Reading Time: 2 minutes A vocal critic of the former Canadian Wheat Board single marketing desk for Prairie wheat and barley is now the lead agriculture critic in Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition. David Anderson, the MP for the southwestern Saskatchewan riding of Cypress Hills-Grasslands since 2000, was named Thursday as the Conservatives’ critic for agriculture and agri-food by interim Tory […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Alberta to back new renewable energy capacity

Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — The Alberta government said Tuesday it will support the creation of 5,000 megawatts of additional renewable energy capacity by 2030 to help achieve goals laid out in its climate plan last year. Shannon Phillips, Minister of Environment and Parks, said Alberta now has a firm target of 30 per cent of electricity used […] Read more



(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder market drops on fed cattle weakness

Reading Time: 2 minutes Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in the range of $128-$130 this past week — the lowest levels since December 2013 and down nearly $18 from a month ago. Weekly beef production continues to defy expectations, bludgeoning feeding margins across the Prairies. Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were quick to respond, trading $8-$10 below week-ago […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canola Council of Canada)

Large old-crop canola stocks raise new-crop questions

Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — Canada grew a million more tonnes of canola in 2015-16 than originally reported, according to updated numbers from Statistics Canada, released Wednesday in connection with the Stocks of Principal Field Crops as of July 31 report. The unexpected revision to the old-crop production now has many industry participants questioning just how large […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder market softens

Reading Time: 2 minutes Hope deferred makes the heart sick, goes the old proverb, and there is no greater example than in the cattle complex. Placid feedlot operators watched in dismay as fed cattle sold in the range of $133-$135 this past week, down approximately $6 from week-ago levels and $10 below breakeven pen closeout values. The stomach-churning fed […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Overcrowded feed market eats into profitability

Reading Time: < 1 minute CNS Canada — Alberta’s feed grain market is overcrowded with sellers, driving prices lower in a trend one market participant says is expected to stay for the near-term. “Farmers keep asking if there’s a lot of grain out there, and that’s not really the main reason markets are falling off,” said Jared Seitz of Agfinity […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder market stable but demand remains soft

Reading Time: 2 minutes Comments from the country this week suggested the market was slightly firmer than week-ago levels. However, market reports stated prices were relatively unchanged and actually softened late in the week. The old saying that even a priest lies about his car’s gas mileage applies to overly optimistic cattlemen trying to bolster market enthusiasm. Feedlot margins […] Read more


Brothers Chris and Lawrence Warwaruk hope a malt-barley variety demonstration featuring
historical varieties will spark a discussion on the farmer-brewer connection.

Back to the future for Manitoba brewer

Neepawa’s Farmery Estate Brewery is highlighting the farm-brewer connection by showing the public the ingredients that make beer

Reading Time: 2 minutes A farm-based beer maker is offering a unique agri-tourism destination that will show attendees the historical ingredients that were used to make beer. Neepawa’s Farmery Estate Brewery, run by brothers Chris and Lawrence Warwaruk, are showcasing the malt barley varieties ranging from a century ago to modern times on their operation, which also produces other […] Read more

(EC.europa.eu)

Pettigrew tapped to help push through EU trade deal

Reading Time: < 1 minute Ottawa | Reuters — Canada has named a former politician with experience in trade and foreign affairs as the government’s new envoy to help complete its long-negotiated free trade agreement with the European Union, a spokeswoman said Wednesday. Pierre Pettigrew, who served as both minister of foreign affairs and minister for international trade under previous […] Read more