(Dave Bedard photo)

Little change seen in June’s crop supply/demand tables

MarketsFarm — Supply/demand estimates for Canada’s major crops saw little change in updated tables released Tuesday from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Acreage estimates from Statistics Canada are due out June 30, and should lead to more sizeable adjustments in subsequent reports. Canola ending stocks were left unchanged at 2.6 million tonnes for the current marketing […] Read more

Barley. (Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Lower stocks support grain prices

Corn still 'competitively' priced

MarketsFarm — Feed grain prices in Western Canada have been strong lately, as old-crop supplies reach seasonal lows. “We’re getting to the bottom of old-crop stocks,” said Allen Pirness of Market Place Commodities in Lethbridge. However, he noted, growing conditions on the Prairies have been favourable, with no indication of a “drought-induced early harvest.” Old-crop […] Read more



(Split Second Stock/iStock/Getty Images)

With beer taps off, malt barley demand down

No significant drop in barley acres expected

MarketsFarm — Declining beer consumption due to the COVID-19 pandemic will also lead to reduced demand for the malt barley to brew it — but acreage to the crop is unlikely to see much adjustment on the Prairies. “I don’t think there’s any question — without sporting events, and festivals, and concerts – that beer […] Read more


A corn crop west of Grunthal, Man. on Aug. 17, 2019. (Dave Bedard photo)

Feed weekly outlook: Cheaper corn to temper rising barley bids

Lack of farmer selling a factor in bids

MarketsFarm — Rising feed barley prices in Western Canada may be nearing their upper limit, as end users look to add more cheaper corn to their rations. “The higher that barley and wheat get, the more attractive corn gets,” said Mike Fleischhauer of Eagle Commodities in Lethbridge. “If barley and wheat go any higher, we’ll […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder cattle markets reflect mixed tone

U.S. corn offered into southern Alberta

Compared to the previous week, western Canadian yearling prices were $2-$4 higher on average while calves traded unchanged to as much as $8 lower. Larger feedlot operations were actively bidding for 800-plus-lb. feeders across the Prairies due to the limited supply. Lower volumes were available this past week which was supportive for the market. Southern […] Read more


(Rahr.com)

China-Australia row to reshuffle trade in bulging barley market

Gains for Canada, other exporters won't be 'magical'

Paris | Reuters — A prohibitive Chinese import tariff on Australian barley will benefit other suppliers without changing the bleak global outlook caused by large stocks and depressed beer demand, analysts and traders said. Beijing said on Monday it would apply an 80.5 per cent tariff on Australian barley imports for the next five years, […] Read more

Meeting metabolizable protein requirements of your cattle

Meeting metabolizable protein requirements of your cattle

Nutrition with John McKinnon

In my April column, I covered the basic concepts of ruminant protein nutrition and introduced the concept of metabolizable protein. As a quick review, metabolizable protein is the protein — or more specifically the amino acids — available for absorption in the small intestine of the animal. Metabolizable protein is used to meet the animal’s […] Read more


Barley south of Ethelton, Sask. on July 30, 2019. (Dave Bedard photo)

China hits Australia with barley tariff

Duty to last for five years; China may turn to Canada, other exporters

Beijing/Sydney | Reuters — China added to tensions with Australia on Monday by announcing anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties totalling 80.5 per cent on Australian barley imports from Tuesday (May 19), which is expected to all but halt a billion-dollar trade between them. China’s ministry of commerce said it had confirmed dumping by Australia and significant […] Read more