(Dave Bedard photo)

Drought fears, fertilizer may affect Canadian acreage estimates

MarketsFarm — Traders and analysts awaiting Statistics Canada’s first survey-based acreage report for the 2022-23 crop year on Tuesday believe competition amongst crops — as well as their dependence on fertilizer, and the possibility of another drought this summer — will be determining factors. Canola stands as the best representation of traders’ concerns. Despite reaching […] Read more




A farm worker unloads Ukrainian-made fertilizer from a truck on April 5, 2022 to use on a wheat field near the village of Yakovlivka, outside Kharkiv, after it was hit by an aerial bombardment. (Photo: Reuters/Thomas Peter)

Farming behind the lines: Ukraine’s farmers sow amidst wreckage

Despite their best efforts, however, famine looms as war rages

In early April, Ukrainian soldiers expelled the Russian invaders from the northern regions of Ukraine: Kyiv, Chernihiv and Sumy regions. The wounded enemy left, leaving behind burned-out war machines and the unburied corpses of his soldiers. However, the invaders managed to do a lot of damage. Many of you are probably aware of the atrocities […] Read more


File photo of a bulk port facility in Ukraine. (Olivia Sabeskaya/iStock/Getty Images)

Ukraine grain storage shortage adds to farmers’ woes

Zurich | Reuters — Ukraine has insufficient storage capacity even for its reduced 2022 grain harvest, the United Nations’ World Food Programme said Tuesday, with the country struggling to export existing stocks during the invasion by Russia. Jakob Kern, the World Food Programme’s emergency co-ordinator in Ukraine, cited estimates that 20 per cent of planted […] Read more

(RGtimeline/iStock/Getty Images)

Feed weekly outlook: Market stagnant as U.S. corn imports continue

MarketsFarm — Feed grain markets in Western Canada are holding relatively steady for the time being, as end-users are well covered with corn imports from the United States. “It seems like most buyers have managed to cover themselves well into June with corn,” said Susanne Leclerc, owner of Market Master Ltd. in Edmonton, adding that […] Read more


The winter snowpack can contribute a significant amount of moisture to forages and other crops the next growing season, but getting a good estimate of how much moisture is in that snow takes a little work.

A crazy winter, a horrific spring

Nutrition with John McKinnon

From a management perspective, this past winter has been unusual, to say the least! It seems at every turn, beef producers across the country faced unexpected challenges. Examples include the residual effects of flooding in the Abbotsford area, drought in Western Canada, extended periods of extremely cold weather and for some areas, near-record snowfall. All […] Read more

Then-federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz (second from right) announces G3’s plan to take a majority stake in CWB in April 2015 in Winnipeg. (Dave Bedard photo)

Farmers’ CWB class action lawsuit gets certified

Suit claims federal government wrongly used farmers' money to help privatize the Wheat Board

A class action lawsuit alleging the government of Canada and G3 Canada Ltd. unlawfully used millions of farmer dollars to privatize the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) has been certified after wending its way through the courts for 10 years. Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Chris Martin delivered his written judgment Tuesday in Winnipeg, clearing the […] Read more



An increase in Brazilian corn production will likely offset a large portion of the shortfall in Ukrainian corn exports.

Feed grain summary

Market Talk with Jerry Klassen

Cattle producers have faced an uphill battle securing feed grain supplies during the 2021-22 crop year. After last year’s drought, which decimated the barley crop, many feedlots switched over to using U.S. corn. The large volume of purchases, along with winter conditions, resulted in rail delays, which has been common in Western Canada over the […] Read more