Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Archives

Spinning straw into gold

Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen

By Reynold Bergen November 4, 2019

The rumen allows cattle to digest fibre that chickens, pigs and humans can’t, and produce high-quality beef protein from feed and land that otherwise wouldn’t produce food. Understanding the rumen better is the key to improving feed efficiency and improving cattle’s ability to convert fibre to protein. There’s as much energy in straw as grain — […] Read more

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada plant breeder Dr. Yousef Papadopoulos holding a sample of AAC Trueman alfalfa to show its branching root and unique rhizomatous growth habit systems.

Forages, News

New branch-rooted alfalfa cultivar hits the market

AAC Trueman is more resilient in extreme weather and can withstand extended periods of dryness, wetness or flooding

By Trudy Kelly Forsythe October 22, 2019

It’s been 30 years in the making, but a new branch-rooted alfalfa cultivar that is tolerant to both drought and excessive moisture is now available in Canada. It’s an important advancement given the increased occurrence of extreme weather events including heavy rains, flooding and drought. The licensing right for this new variety was awarded in […] Read more

Crops, Markets

Corn exports expected down in AAFC’s October outlook

By Glen Hallick - MarketsFarm October 18, 2019

MarketsFarm — Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) on Friday issued its October outlook for principal field crops, with some revisions compared to the September report. One of the most notable numbers from AAFC was the drop in 2019-20 corn exports, which were estimated to be about 1.5 million tonnes, over 20 per cent less compared […] Read more

Crops

AAFC raises 2019-20 canola, wheat ending stocks

By Phil Franz-Warkentin September 23, 2019

MarketsFarm — Canadian ending stocks of canola and wheat will be larger than earlier thought, according to updated supply/demand tables Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada released late Friday. AAFC raised its canola ending stocks estimate for 2019-20 to a record 4.5 million tonnes, up from the August estimate of 3.775 million and the upwardly-revised 2018-19 level […] Read more

Canola, Crops, Markets, Spring Wheat

Canada boosts 2019-20 wheat production estimate

By Phil Franz-Warkentin August 21, 2019

MarketsFarm — Canadian wheat production in 2019-20 is forecast to come in at 500,000 tonnes above an earlier forecast, according to updated supply/demand tables released Wednesday from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Wheat ending stocks were also raised in the report, while adjustments to the canola tables led a slight reduction to the still record-large carryout […] Read more

Cereals, News, News Roundup

Researchers discover bacteria that detoxifies DON

Research: News Roundup from the June 2019 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

By Staff June 26, 2019

Researchers have discovered bacteria that convert grain vomitoxins to a non-toxic form. Vomitoxins such as deoxynivalenol (DON) are produced by fungi that infect cereal species. Grain contaminated with DON can’t be consumed by people, and can only be safely fed to livestock if levels are low. DON is also resistant to heat treatment and regular […] Read more

Canola, Crops, Markets

Huge increase predicted in canola ending stocks

By Phil Franz-Warkentin May 21, 2019

MarketsFarm — Canadian canola carryout stocks are forecast to rise to a record 5.3 million tonnes by the end of the 2019-20 marketing year, more than doubling the previous five-year average, according to updated estimates from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s market analysis division. While the department, in its estimates, expects total canola production to decline […] Read more

Revised livestock transport regulations appear to have ignored recommendations included in the CCA’s extensive comments, questions and recommendations submitted to the CFIA.

CCA reports, News

CCA Report: CCA meets Canada’s new ag minister, reviews transport regulations

From the April 2019 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

By David Haywood-Farmer April 9, 2019

March proved to be a busy month with calving in full swing at the ranch at home and other new beginnings to tend to elsewhere. I was pleased to connect quickly with the new Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister, Marie-Claude Bibeau, by phone in the days following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet shuffle in early March. […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Livestock, Weather

Unusual third assessment run for livestock tax deferrals

By Glen Hallick - MarketsFarm January 29, 2019

In an unusual move, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has undertaken a third assessment for the federal livestock tax deferral. “Federal officials are currently finalizing the analysis to identify whether any additional regions have met the criteria for the livestock tax deferral,” AAFC spokesperson James Watson said. Under the deferral plan, cattle producers affected by severe […] Read more

Canadian beef grading standards will be replaced with two more yield grades, increasing the number to five.

News, News Roundup

Canadian beef yield grade standards change in January

Grade: News Roundup from the January 2019 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

By Piper Whelan January 10, 2019

*[UPDATED: Jan. 15, 2018] Canadian beef yield grade standards were updated in the new year to match those south of the 49th parallel. The Canadian Beef Grading Agency announced that the three yield grades of the Canadian beef grading standards will be replaced in January 2019 with five yield grades. The quality grades will remain […] Read more

Feed weekly outlook: Prolonged Prairie harvest pushes up grain prices

U.S. grains: Soybeans set one-month low on trade doubts

U.S. livestock: Hogs reach two-month low

GFM Network News