File photo of Highway 363 near Moose Jaw, Sask. (Mysticenergy/iStock/Getty Images)

Spring road bans loom across Prairies

Mid-March weight limits pending for heavy trucks

Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — The looming spring melt across Western Canada will likely disrupt some grain and livestock movement over the next few weeks, as seasonal spring road restrictions come into effect across the Prairies. Spring road restrictions set axle weight limits for vehicles moving on certain roads to reduce the damage heavier loads can cause during […] Read more

File photo of Highway 363 near Moose Jaw, Sask. (Mysticenergy/iStock/Getty Images)

Spring road bans coming into effect across Prairies

Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Warming temperatures and melting snow across Western Canada may cause some disruptions to grain and livestock movement over the next few weeks as seasonal spring road restrictions come into effect across the Prairies. Annual spring road restrictions set axle weight limits for vehicles moving on certain roads, in an effort to reduce the […] Read more


File photo of Highway 363 near Moose Jaw, Sask. (Mysticenergy/iStock/Getty Images)

Spring road bans coming into effect across Prairies

Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Warming temperatures and melting snow across Western Canada may cause some disruptions to grain and livestock movement over the next few weeks as seasonal spring road restrictions come into effect across the Prairies. The annual spring road restrictions set axle weight limits for vehicles moving on certain roads in an effort to reduce […] Read more

Riding Mountain National Park in western Manitoba. (Mysticenergy/E+/Getty Images)

Manitoba eases load limits for grains, livestock, vegetables, fertilizer

'Essential' commodities allowed at normal axle weights on more roads

Reading Time: 2 minutes Springtime load limits on certain Manitoba highways will be lifted early this year for transport of crops, livestock, fertilizer and other “essential” goods. Provincial Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler announced Tuesday that certain essential goods may be trucked at “normal loading” axle weights on highways usually subject to Level 1 road restrictions during spring thaw. Essential […] Read more


A barley crop south of Ethelton, Sask. on July 30, 2019. (Dave Bedard photo)

Feed weekly outlook: Spring rally unlikely

Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Feed grain bids in Western Canada have held relatively steady over the past month despite large moves in many outside markets. However, a number of factors may weigh on values heading into the spring. Feed barley is trading in the $4-$4.95 per bushel area in Alberta, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire data. Prices […] Read more

(Kat72/iStock/Getty Images)

Feed weekly outlook: Seasonal restrictions underpin grains

Coronavirus fallout being watched

Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Seasonal weight restrictions and spring road bans are providing some underlying support for feed grain bids in Western Canada, with the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak also being followed closely. “Winter weights are coming off, which is restricting the areas (feedlots) can pull from,” said Allen Pirness, of MarketPlace Commodities in Lethbridge, adding “there’s a […] Read more


(File photo)

Feed weekly outlook: Buyers not looking to make purchases

Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Feed grain prices were beginning to soften as many buyers don’t have a major need to purchase from growers, said Nelson Neumann, senior trader for Agfinity in Stony Plain, Alta. “There’s still obviously a demand, but buyers are pretty well covered for the February-March timeframe. That’s a window where a lot of growers […] Read more



File photo of snowmelt on a gravel road. (PBouman/iStock/Getty Images)

Pulse weekly outlook: Values steady ahead of road bans, seeding

Reading Time: < 1 minute For pulses so far midwinter there hasn’t been a great deal of movement pricewise, though two factors are seen on the horizon could generate some change: road restrictions and spring seeding. Large green lentils are around 22 cents/lb. picked up at the farm, said Dale McManus of Johnston Grains at Welwyn, Sask., about 145 km […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

ICE weekly outlook: Canola awaits acreage report

Reading Time: < 1 minute CNS Canada — This week’s acreage estimates from Statistics Canada could bring an end to canola’s recent chart surge upward — or could give futures the impetus to move even higher. The dominant July contract closed Wednesday at $535 per tonne, a gain of $8 from the previous Wednesday’s close. Prairie farmers on Friday will […] Read more