Colleen and Dylan Biggs of TK Ranch, with locations near Calgary and Hanna, Alta.

Direct marketing in the COVID age

Two Alberta businesswomen talk shop about how the pandemic has shaped the direct marketing landscape for beef producers

It is a changed world. The time spent in pandemic lockdowns has completely altered consumer behaviour. Perhaps it has sped up trends that were already in place, such as concerns about how food was grown or raised, convenience and ease of online purchasing. According to a recent article in the Harvard Business Review on Marketing […] Read more

A customer looks at food items displayed on shelves at a supermarket, amid the COVID-19 outbreak in Shanghai, China on Nov. 30, 2022. (Photo: Reuters/Aly Song)

CBOT weekly outlook: Circumstances could mess with usual holiday lull

MarketsFarm — Usually at this time of year, the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) slips into its holiday lull, with most trading sticking to a sideways range, Scott Capinegro of Barrington Commodities said, suggesting that could change. “With such geo-political stuff going on and a possible railroad strike [in the United States], it kind of […] Read more


CBOT March 2023 soft red winter wheat with 20-day moving average (dark green line), MGEX March 2023 hard red spring wheat (yellow line) and K.C. March 2023 hard red winter wheat (orange line). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat rises on short-covering, China optimism

Wheat still lost nearly 10 per cent in November; soybeans rise on fresh China sales, corn down

Winnipeg | Reuters — Chicago wheat rose for a second straight session on Wednesday, supported by end-of-the-month short-covering and investor hopes that China will loosen COVID-19 rules, although the grain declined sharply in November on competition from Black Sea supplies. Soybeans also ticked up, touching a two-month peak, as optimism that China will ease restrictions […] Read more

CBOT March 2023 soft red winter wheat with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat inches higher on hopes China will ease COVID-19 measures

Corn slips on export demand concerns

Winnipeg | Reuters — Chicago wheat finished slightly higher on Tuesday after the previous day’s three-month low, as investors saw hope that China would ease measures to counter COVID-19 infections after rare protests in the country unsettled markets a day earlier. Soybeans also gained on optimism about China, but corn dipped over concerns about export […] Read more


CBOT March 2023 soft red winter wheat (candlesticks) with 20-day moving average (green line), MGEX March 2023 hard red spring wheat (yellow line) and K.C. March 2023 hard red winter wheat (orange line). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat tumbles to three-month low in broad sell-off

Soybeans rise on export sales, renewable fuel talk

Winnipeg | Reuters — Chicago wheat fell on Monday to a three-month low, as commodity and equity markets dropped on concern about the impact of rare protests in China against its strict anti-COVID-19 policy. Cheap supplies from Russia and elsewhere in the Black Sea are adding competition for U.S. wheat, and prices have slipped to […] Read more

CBOT January 2023 soybeans with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybeans, grains turn higher ahead of U.S. Thanksgiving

Wheat rises as investors position ahead of holiday

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybean and grain futures ended higher on Wednesday, as traders looked to even up their positions before the market closes for the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday and ahead of a short trading day on Friday, analysts said. Corn futures strengthened, as the market eyed dry weather forecasts that may cause more […] Read more


BNSF crews clear track near Lemmon, S.D., about 300 km northeast of Rapid City, in late December 2016. (BNSF.com)

Biggest U.S. rail union rejects tentative deal, raising threat of strike

Union digs in on paid sick time

Washington/Los Angeles | Reuters — Workers at the largest U.S. rail union voted against a tentative contract deal reached in September, raising the possibility of a year-end strike that could cause significant damage to the U.S. economy and strand vital shipments of food and fuel. Train and engine service members of the transportation division of […] Read more

CBOT February 2023 soybeans with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soy futures up on China COVID curbs, weakening U.S. dollar

Corn market gains boosted by strength in crude oil market

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago wheat, corn and soybeans rose on Friday, underpinned by strong commodities and equities markets, as well as hopes that China’s easing of COVID-19 restrictions could boost demand. Soybeans bounced on hopes that China’s move to ease some COVID-19 curbs might spur economic activity, potentially boosting demand for goods including soybeans. […] Read more



Viewing COVID-19 from a veterinary practice perspective

Viewing COVID-19 from a veterinary practice perspective

Vet Advice with Dr. Ron Clarke

COVID-19 changed the world. It changed perceptions in animal care, human responsibilities regarding animal health management and how humans will think about their own health down the road. Opinions on what the future offers vary widely between individuals. Personal opinion, level of understanding about issues and acceptance of what’s right and what’s wrong in the […] Read more