File photo of the former CWB building in downtown Winnipeg.

Proposed CWB class action suit takes another step

LEGAL | Lawyer Anders Bruun says he’s confident the certification application will be successful

A class-action lawsuit against the Government of Canada and G3 Canada Limited, alleging millions of dollars of farmers’ money was improperly used to privatize the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) in 2012, is a step closer to certification. In Winnipeg Nov. 22 Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Chris Martin heard from lawyers representing the plaintiff and defence


(Dave Bedard photo)

Smaller crops likely in StatsCan survey-based report

MarketsFarm — Mindful of the summer drought conditions that seriously cut into crop production across the Prairies, average trade estimates call for downward revisions to Statistics Canada’s already-small forecasts for most crops when the it releases its first survey-based estimates of the marketing year on Friday. While prior reports, in September and August, were compiled

Regenerative dairy farmers Henry Nyhof (left to right), Sean Smith and Paul Kernaleguen with conference organizer Ryan Boyd.

Dairy farmers well positioned for regenerative ag, producers say

BALANCES | Increased grazing has seen decreases in butterfat but overall increases in cows’ health, reduced input costs

Canadian dairy farmers may be among the best positioned to take up regenerative farming practices, said producers during a panel discussion at the 2021 Regenerative Ag Conference, held in Brandon Nov. 15 to 17. Supply management means a steady income which can give farmers more confidence to take risks, said Sean Smith, a dairy farmer near Minnedosa. Fairly small herds


Callum Morrison takes moisture readings in a soybean cash crop that is part of a long-term cover cropping field trial in Carman.

Cover crop survey reveals risks and benefits

Producers like the potential but say short season, lack of moisture key concerns

Planting a cover crop is a new idea this far north. It has its agronomic advantages, it keeps roots in the soil after the harvest, although it comes with its problems as well, especially in Western Canada. Prairie farmers were historically skeptical about cover cropping. Some say it’s purposely growing “weeds” that will deplete your

The Prairie Innovation Centre is expected to repurpose the Valleyview Building on ACC's North Hill campus.

Crop Alliance commits $100,000 to Prairie Innovation Centre

ACC says centre is latest step in drive to become a national leader in a griculture education

The Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA) has committed $100,000 to the Collaboration Zone within Assiniboine Community College’s Prairie Innovation Centre for Sustainable Agriculture. The Collaboration Zone is touted as a spot where education and industry will meet. MCA represents five key commodities in the province: spring and winter wheat, sunflowers, corn, barley and flax. “The birth


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Prairie grains remain firm

Transport issues slow U.S. corn flow

MarketsFarm — Feed grain prices in Western Canada remain strong in late November, although looming corn imports from the U.S. should keep a lid on the upside. Feed barley in Alberta is currently topping out at $9.78 per bushel, with feed wheat above $12 in some cases, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire. Those prices remain

(Dave Bedard photo)

AAFC lowers canola export forecast

Domestic canola usage raised; other crops largely unchanged

MarketsFarm — Canadian canola exports during the 2021-22 marketing year are forecast to be smaller than earlier projections, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) reported late Friday. Domestic usage, however, was raised in the report, keeping ending stocks of the crop steady with the October forecast. Total Canadian canola exports in 2021-22 are now forecast at


Standing corn north of St. Adolphe, Man. on Sept. 19, 2021. (Dave Bedard photo)

Feed weekly outlook: Record imports of U.S. corn likely

Feeders will need to scale back barley usage

MarketsFarm — Canadian imports of corn from the United States are picking up and could hit a record this year, given the tight supply situation across the Prairies. The most recent export sales data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture showed Canada as the country’s largest corn customer during the week ended Nov. 11, accounting

(WPohlDesign/iStock/Getty Images)

Klassen: Feeder market continues downward slide

Prairies' snowstorm leads to risk discount

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were steady to $2 lower; calves traded $2-$4 below week-ago levels. Saskatchewan and Manitoba experienced their first major snowstorm of the season last week. The market tends to incorporate a risk discount for adverse weather as buyers factor in higher death loss. Also, major feedlot operators believe