Smoke rises from a wildfire near Wildwood, Alta., about 100 km west of Edmonton, on May 5, 2023. (Photo: Alberta Wildfire/Handout via Reuters)

Alberta ‘crossing fingers’ for rain amid wildfires

CN mainline traffic west of Edmonton suspended

Reuters — Firefighters were counting on rain and cooler weather forecast for Monday to help them quell a dramatic start to Alberta’s wildfire season. The province declared a state of emergency on Saturday in response to wildfires in northern and central regions that have displaced nearly 30,000 people and prompted energy producers to shut in […] Read more

Grant Lastiwka’s bale grazing setup.

Evaluating options for feeding bales

The hay is baled and stacked in the yard. Now’s the time to decide how to feed it. If the current method wastes a significant amount of feed, it might be time to re-evaluate your feeding system. Bale grazing has become more popular in recent years. Before an entire feeding system is switched over to […] Read more


When it comes to storing forage crops, not all storage methods are created equal.

How do you store your hay?

Direction and spacing are two key things to consider

The hay is baled. But do you give much thought to how it’s placed in storage? With hay prices skyrocketing over the past year or so, weathering or loss in the stack are thoughts on more people’s minds than in years past. While there might not be an actual “right” way to store your hay, […] Read more

File photo of a sunrise over an Alberta barley crop. (MNphotography/iStock/Getty Images)

Alberta issues final crop report for year

Harvest over 98 per cent done by region and crop type

MarketsFarm –– For the second year in a row the Alberta harvest wrapped up well ahead of the five-year average. With a gain of three points for the week ended Tuesday, Alberta Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development (AFRED) pegged the combining of major crops at 99.2 per cent complete. That’s 22 and a half […] Read more


Barry Schmitt and his sons at Barr-Ag in Olds, Alberta, hosted delegates on an Al Dhara inbound trade mission this spring.

Sending hay abroad

Canada’s export forage market: trade missions, tips for producers and market trends

Canadian exporters say they’re receiving more overseas inquiries for high-quality forage. Last May, one inquiry led the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) to organize a trade mission that brought representatives from Al Dahra Holding LLC, an Abu Dhabi-based agribusiness that trades three million tonnes of forage annually, to tour Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta.  Siju […] Read more

Aside from the potential for lower feed prices, this year’s abundant hay and silage yields will make life easier for both cow-calf and feedlot operators.

What a difference a year can make!

Nutrition with John McKinnon

From a feeding perspective, this fall looks to hold a great deal more promise than that of 2021. At the time of writing, slaughter prices are higher than a year ago and look good going into the fall. Feed availability is significantly greater than this time last year, particularly in Western Canada. Abundant feed supplies […] Read more


(Lightguard/iStock/Getty Images)

Saskatchewan crops advancing quickly

MarketsFarm — Hot and humid conditions saw crops in Saskatchewan advance quickly during the week ended Monday, according to the latest provincial crop report — although the humidity has slowed haying. When humidity is high, cutting hay becomes more challenging and hay that is cut does not dry down as quickly, which can result in […] Read more



Ducks Unlimited accepting bids for hay tenders in Manitoba

Ducks Unlimited accepting bids for hay tenders in Manitoba

Brookdale farmer calls the program “critical” to his cattle operation

Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) is making almost 2,200 acres of hay land available to Manitoba farmers who suffered through historic dry conditions and cattle feed shortages last year. Producers have until June 29 to bid on hay opportunities in 16 municipalities in southwest Manitoba, through the DUC Hay Tender Program. “To be honest, I’d be […] Read more

(Lightguard/iStock/Getty Images)

Planting progress picking up in Saskatchewan

MarketsFarm — Overall spring planting across Saskatchewan reached 33 per cent complete as of Monday, according to the latest weekly crop report from Saskatchewan Agriculture. Despite the good progress over the week, that’s still 20 points behind the five-year average. When compared to the excellent progress this time last year, the gap expands to 41 […] Read more