CBOT July 2020 oats with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

Demand pushes up cash prices for oats

Cash oats uncoupled from Chicago futures values

Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — While scarcity of oats on the Prairies has pushed up cash prices, there has been a drop in futures prices on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT), two buyers said. “The weakness in the futures definitely has nothing to do with cash prices in the country,” said Scott Shiels of Grain Millers at […] Read more

(Country Guide file photo)

Prairie cash wheat: Prices dip due to stronger loonie

Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Wheat bids in Western Canada were down by varying degrees for the week ended Thursday. Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat was steady to lower, Canada Prairie Spring Red (CPSR) was down, and Canada Western Amber Durum (CWAD) slipped a few cents. Increased strength in the Canadian dollar weighed on values, while support […] Read more


A healthy wheat head at left and one with severe symptoms of fusarium head blight at right. (Keith Weller photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Alberta deregulates fusarium

Crop disease comes off province's 'zero tolerance' list

Reading Time: 2 minutes Alberta is moving to keep fusarium in check by means other than the “zero tolerance” policy it has in effect on agricultural pests such as rats, rabies and clubroot. Agriculture Minister Devin Dreeshen announced a ministerial order Wednesday to remove Fusarium graminearum from the list of pests covered by the Pest and Nuisance Control Regulation, […] Read more

Growing conditions weren’t ideal at Indian Head in 2018 and 2019, but economic results were similar for both years.

Hang on to your chequebook for cropping decisions

Highest returns come from soil testing to determine fertility rates plus choosing crop-protection products based on past pest problems and frequent scouting

Reading Time: 4 minutes After two years of a three-year trial, results indicate that the highest wheat yields and protein come from applying the highest level of inputs. But if you’re interested in the highest profits, you might want to hang on to your chequebook. The trial is led by Chris Holzapfel, research manager at the Indian Head Agricultural […] Read more


(Split Second Stock/iStock/Getty Images)

With beer taps off, malt barley demand down

No significant drop in barley acres expected

Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Declining beer consumption due to the COVID-19 pandemic will also lead to reduced demand for the malt barley to brew it — but acreage to the crop is unlikely to see much adjustment on the Prairies. “I don’t think there’s any question — without sporting events, and festivals, and concerts – that beer […] Read more

A corn crop west of Grunthal, Man. on Aug. 17, 2019. (Dave Bedard photo)

Feed weekly outlook: Cheaper corn to temper rising barley bids

Lack of farmer selling a factor in bids

Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Rising feed barley prices in Western Canada may be nearing their upper limit, as end users look to add more cheaper corn to their rations. “The higher that barley and wheat get, the more attractive corn gets,” said Mike Fleischhauer of Eagle Commodities in Lethbridge. “If barley and wheat go any higher, we’ll […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canola Council of Canada)

AAFC tightens canola stocks projections

Reading Time: < 1 minute Corrected, May 25 — MarketsFarm — Canadian canola ending stocks for both the current marketing year and the upcoming 2020-21 season will be tighter than earlier forecasts, according to updated supply/demand estimates from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada released Friday. The latest data take into account acreage estimates released by Statistics Canada earlier in the month. […] Read more

(Rahr.com)

China-Australia row to reshuffle trade in bulging barley market

Gains for Canada, other exporters won't be 'magical'

Reading Time: 2 minutes Paris | Reuters — A prohibitive Chinese import tariff on Australian barley will benefit other suppliers without changing the bleak global outlook caused by large stocks and depressed beer demand, analysts and traders said. Beijing said on Monday it would apply an 80.5 per cent tariff on Australian barley imports for the next five years, […] Read more


Barley south of Ethelton, Sask. in early August 2017. (File photo by Dave Bedard)

Feed weekly outlook: Barley prices strong

Jury still out on impact of China-Australia trade spat

Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Feed grain prices across the Prairies have been stronger during the week ended Thursday, buoyed by rainy conditions in southern Alberta coupled with steady demand. “To fill the gaps, prices have had to go up,” said Allen Pirness of Market Place Commodities in Lethbridge. Prices for feed barley went up by about $5 […] Read more

Barley south of Ethelton, Sask. on July 30, 2019. (Dave Bedard photo)

China hits Australia with barley tariff

Duty to last for five years; China may turn to Canada, other exporters

Reading Time: 2 minutes Beijing/Sydney | Reuters — China added to tensions with Australia on Monday by announcing anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties totalling 80.5 per cent on Australian barley imports from Tuesday (May 19), which is expected to all but halt a billion-dollar trade between them. China’s ministry of commerce said it had confirmed dumping by Australia and significant […] Read more