Soil moisture (top five cm of soil) on Prairies for November 2016, measured as difference from average. (AAFC Drought Watch map)

Winter wonderland piles on saturated eastern Prairies

CNS Canada — While a wave of snow slowly pummels parts of Saskatchewan and much of Manitoba, one soil moisture expert says water is still trickling through the soil into natural water channels. According to Trevor Hadwen, agroclimate specialist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Drought Watch program in Regina, this is a good thing, as

(Dave Bedard photo)

ICE weekly outlook: Farmers look for rallies

CNS Canada — As the last remaining days of harvest tick down, farmers are beginning to look for rallies to sell into, according to an analyst in the market. “The farmer continues to struggle out there, but seems content to sell into the rallies. I don’t think they’re selling into the breaks,” said Keith Ferley


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Plentiful feed supplies weigh on feed barley prices

CNS Canada — A steady stream of fusarium-damaged wheat is flooding Alberta feedlots these days, giving ranchers a variety of choices on what they can give to their animals — but also keeping feed barley prices in check. “That has definitely been heavy on the barley,” said Allan Pirness of Marketplace Commodities in Lethbridge. That

Cattle amble through fresh snow in northwestern Saskatchewan on Oct. 22, 2016. (Lisa Guenther photo)

Prairies’ harvest window starting to close

CNS Canada — The dry, balmy weather that gave farmers in Western Canada the chance to get the remainder of this year’s crop off appears to be winding down. “There is a little disturbance in Alberta coming across to northern Saskatchewan over the next two days; it will start tonight,” said Drew Lerner of World



Brown mustard. (Peggy Greb photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Mustard prices hang tough despite wet weather

CNS Canada — Cold, wet weather that has downgraded the quality of some of Canada’s staple crops isn’t having the same effect on mustard, according to two experts on the specialty crop. While much of this year’s harvest is already over, a significant number of acres remains in Saskatchewan and Alberta, said Walter Dyck of






(OPEC.org)

OPEC announcement could boost ag markets, maybe

CNS Canada — The bearish malaise that has gripped the North American agricultural market shows no sign of breaking soon, and it could take a major disruption, say such as a hike in oil prices, to lead the way higher, according to some industry watchers. “Let’s say we go to US$55 (per barrel). That would