Strong global demand For Canadian flax boosts prices

Reading Time: 2 minutes U.S. and Chinese demand for Canadian flax remains strong, but Will Hill, president of the Flax Council of Canada, said that increased import demand from the European market has helped with the boost prices have seen lately.    “From what I’m understanding, Eastern Europe’s crop is not as good as it was two years ago, so […] Read more

Canary seed could be more profitable than cereals this harvest

Reading Time: 2 minutes Despite harvest nearing an end, canary seed prices continue to downtrend due to reports of huge yields across Saskatchewan. However, Kevin Hursh, executive director for the Canaryseed Development Commission of Saskatchewan, said prices still compare favourably versus other crops. As of Thursday, Prairie Ag Hotwire had FOB farm canary seed at 23 to 24 cents […] Read more


Oat prices stabilize amid increased U.S. demand

Reading Time: 2 minutes Canadian oat prices, which declined close to half a dollar a bushel during harvest, are reported to have been steady in recent weeks due to low U.S. oat supplies. “Since early harvest, oats have probably lost C30 to 40 cents a bushel, but they’ve held in relatively well recently,” said Ryan McKnight, a merchant for […] Read more

Prairie pea prices recovering following harvest pressure

Reading Time: 2 minutes As Western Canada’s dry pea harvest wraps up, prices have started to slightly recover, but Jackie Kress, senior grain manager for Legumex Walker, said some pressure will remain due to an extremely large crop. “It’ll be a supply-and-demand situation, so with the supply that’s out there, it puts pressure on prices still,” she said. Prices […] Read more


Chickpea prices stabilize as Prairie harvest nears end

Reading Time: 2 minutes After feeling the weight of harvest over the past month and a half, western Canadian chickpea prices are beginning to stabilize as the majority of the crop has been combined across the Prairies. “It seems harvest is wrapping up, with 80 to 90 per cent (of the crop) done,” said Kevin Silzer, merchant trader and […] Read more

Prairie mustard yields seen as best in a decade

Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canada’s mustard crops are producing their best yields in a decade, according to Walter Dyck, mustard buyer with Wisconsin-based Olds Products, noting warm weather in July and August really helped the development of crops across the Prairies. “We are just receiving samples from our contract growers, but based on the initial samples that have […] Read more


Stalemate seen in Canada’s lentil market

Reading Time: 2 minutes A lack of demand for western Canadian lentils and reluctance from growers to sell at current prices appears to have led to a stalemate. “Talking to the buyer side of things, there really isn’t any room for prices to move any higher at this moment,” said Shawn Madsen, operations manager for Southland Pulse at Estevan, […] Read more

Flax prices decline amid above-average yields

Reading Time: 2 minutes Canadian flax prices have declined as much as $1 per bushel since August — a slip credited to reports of very good yields across the Prairies and increased production expectations for the 2013-14 season. “Right now we’re $13.50 per bushel delivered to plants in Saskatchewan and $14/bu. in Manitoba,” said Grant Fehr, flax and special […] Read more


Hog producers could see profitable winter

Reading Time: 2 minutes A profitable summer for Canadian hog producers may extend into the fall and winter months, as the margin between hog prices and the cost of feed is seen to be very favourable. “Based on what we know today, we’re experiencing significantly higher prices than what we expected to at this time frame, and feed prices […] Read more

Lethbridge barley losing $5-$10 per tonne a week

Reading Time: 2 minutes Lethbridge barley prices are seen continuing to weaken as the ongoing harvest and ideas of above-average crop production have been bearish. “We’re still in a downtrend,” said Jim Beusekom, a grain broker at Market Place Commodities at Lethbridge, Alta. “Lethbridge barley is trading in the $170-$180 per metric tonne range today, so we’re losing a […] Read more