A two-row Bentley base malt. (RedShedMalting.ca)

Alberta malt barley quality looking good

CNS Canada — Despite a wet spring and problems with dryness in the summer, barley in central Alberta is looking fairly good, according to a grower in the Red Deer area. “We had a really good malt crop this year, the quality is excellent,” said Matt Hamill of Red Shed Malting at Red Deer. “It […] Read more




Tight barley supplies will encourage corn imports

Tight barley supplies will encourage corn imports

Market Talk with Jerry Klassen

Feed barley prices have been under pressure through the harvest period as yields across Western Canada have come in better than expected. It appears that the drier conditions in the southern regions of Alberta and Saskatchewan were more than offset by timely rains in the central and northern areas of the provinces. Barley selected for […] Read more


Barley south of Ethelton, Sask. on Aug. 3, 2017. (Dave Bedard photo)

Alberta wheat, barley groups test merged management

Already sharing an office and support staff, the Alberta Wheat Commission and Alberta Barley are taking the next step by sharing a manager. The two grower commissions announced Wednesday that the AWC’s general manager Tom Steve will now serve also as Alberta Barley’s general manager, replacing Rob Davies. With Steve on board, the two commissions’ […] Read more

Barley south of Ethelton, Sask. on Aug. 3, 2017. (Dave Bedard photo)

Feed barley market firms with weak production numbers

CNS Canada — A 16.8 per cent drop in the size of Canada’s barley crop has given feed barley prices some support, according to an industry-watcher in Alberta. “The market is looking fairly strong,” said Allan Pirness of Market Place Commodities in Lethbridge. “It’s made things a little firmer for new-crop feed grain.” Wet weather […] Read more


The Canada 150 emblem in a durum field. (Agr.gc.ca)

StatsCan’s model-based estimates confirm larger crops

CNS Canada — Canadian canola and wheat production likely ended up larger than earlier estimates, according to computer model-based data released Tuesday by Statistics Canada. The model-based estimates are calculated by incorporating satellite data, agro-climate data, and Statistics Canada’s field crop reporting data. The numbers compare with the survey of farmers released Aug. 31. Total […] Read more

Feeder cattle market outlook

Feeder cattle market outlook

Market Talk with Jerry Klassen

I’ve received many calls with regard to the outlook for the feeder cattle market for the fall and winter period. Many cattle producers are asking if they should be backgrounding their calves over the winter while others are looking to sell yearlings over the next month. There are quite a few factors that will influence […] Read more


In the study, the cows were fed barley silage, barley grain, barley straw and hay in confinement, or swath grazed on triticale (seen here) or corn for 120 days.

Another look at the costs and benefits of swath grazing

Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen

Well-managed swath grazing has well-known economic benefits for producers. But research results from a study funded by the Beef Science Cluster showed that it can have environmental benefits as well. Dr. Vern Baron and coworkers at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Lacombe Research Station recently published Swath grazing triticale and corn compared to barley and a […] Read more