Prairie CWRS wheat bids holding steady

Cash wheat bids across Western Canada experienced some mixed activity during the week ended June 3. Canada Western red spring (CWRS) wheat bids were nearly unchanged, with some elevators reporting small declines, and others showing slightly stronger prices. Average spot bids for CWRS with 13.5 per cent protein across Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta came in […] Read more



Tight feed forces some Prairie cattle to pasture early

Some producers in Manitoba and Saskatchewan are having to put cattle out to pasture earlier than they should because they don’t have enough feed supplies to nourish them. “Feed is really expensive these days, so producers are not going to purchase more,” said Glenn Friesen, forage specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives at […] Read more

Record-large Manitoba soybean acreage still possible

Despite a slow start to seeding in Manitoba this spring, farmers should still be able to plant a record-large soybean crop. Statistics Canada reported in its latest planting intentions report that farmers in Manitoba intended to plant 1.085 million acres of soybeans as of March 31. Shawn Rempel, products manager with Quarry Seed at Stonewall, […] Read more

Prairie durum holding premium over spring wheat

Tight supply concerns have helped durum wheat prices in Western Canada stay strong and maintain a premium over spring wheat values. “We have a projected very low Canadian carryout for durum; we’re sharply below the five- and 10-year averages,” said Jerry Klassen, manager of GAP Grains and Produits in Winnipeg. “Whereas, the spring wheat ending […] Read more


Prairie flax cash market comes off its highs

The western Canadian flax cash market seems to be coming down from recent highs. Fresh demand from China and Europe helped values rally recently, but the market in Europe has leveled off and Canadian cash prices seem to be following along. Chuck Penner, president of LeftField Commodity Research in Winnipeg, said he’s not sure if […] Read more

Late spring supporting Prairie canola cash market

Prices for canola on the cash market in Western Canada are strong, finding good support from the late spring in the region. The uncertainty surrounding the late spring in Western Canada is supportive for both old-crop and new-crop values, said Errol Anderson, president of ProMarket Communications in Calgary. “I think the old-crop canola might be […] Read more

Wheat movement slowing on Prairies

Wheat movement in Western Canada has started to slow down, as some farmers are eager to get started on seeding and have shifted their focus to other projects. “Right now the focus is on trying to get out in the field,” said Reid Fenton with BLB Grain Group at Three Hills, Alta. “In this area […] Read more


Hog producers still losing money

Hog producers in Canada are still losing money because of high feed prices, according to industry officials. Current hog prices are actually above the long-term average, but because feed costs are so high, producers are still unable to turn a profit, said Brad Marceniuk, livestock economist with Saskatchewan’s ministry of agriculture in Saskatoon. According to […] Read more

Late spring could mean more Prairie canaryseed acres

Expectations that persistent winter-like weather will delay seeding in Western Canada this spring could result in more canaryseed acreage. “Canaryseed is often the last thing people seed, and I think the delayed planting season might be a factor,” said Kevin Hursh of the Canaryseed Development Commission of Saskatchewan. Acres could increase, he said, because some […] Read more