Cash bids for barley across Western Canada have seen an increase from last year. Limited supply on the Prairies and adverse weather conditions in the U.S. have contributed to the higher prices, particularly in Alberta. Bids at Lethbridge have moved up to anywhere between $5.75 and nearly $5.95 per bushel delivered to the feedlots, almost
Prairie feed barley bids strong
Export competition lowers bids for sunflowers
Bids for oil and confectionary varieties of sunflowers have been holding steady, but are lower than the year-ago level, as competition from other exporters has depressed values in Western Canada. The availability of cheaper, easier-to-move alternative commodities has also placed downward pressure on western Canadian sunflower bids, according to sunflower experts. Bids for the oil
Late rains on Prairies could delay harvests
A combination of heavy rains in June followed by recent heat and dryness on the Prairies have turned into mainly favourable growing conditions. However, a wet bias is still expected for the majority of the summer, which could push back the beginning of harvest. “We’ve got some pockets out there that are a little wet
Drought-like conditions send U.S. corn, soybeans higher
Severe heat and dryness have hampered U.S. corn and soybean crops lately, causing futures prices to climb higher. If the adverse weather persists, an analyst said there was still more room to the upside. Temperatures have hit triple digits (Fahrenheit) in key growing regions, lending risk to soybean crops and severely damaging corn crops. Scattered
Feeder cattle exports up amid shifting grain economics
The cost-of-gain advantage in Canada has kept feeder cattle exports to the United States down for the last couple years, but in the last five months, Canadian feeder cattle exports have begun to climb back up because of a shift in grain economics between Canada and the U.S. Slaughter cattle exports, on the other hand,
Chinese demand absorbing Canadian flax supplies
Canadian flaxseed supplies in the 2011-12 and 2012-13 crop years will be on the tight side, as China has replaced Europe as a key export destination for the commodity. From the 2011 season up to April 2012, China imported 85,700 tonnes of flax, up from 35,000 tonnes during the entire 2010-11 season. Europe limited its
Prairie crops seen surviving heavy rains
Localized heavy rains in Saskatchewan and western Manitoba have delayed seeding on remaining acres for various crops — but the precipitation should not have washed away any seeds. Northeastern Saskatchewan, for instance, saw about 50 millimetres. Other numbers from Environment Canada put weekend totals in the northwest of the province at nearly 100 millimetres. "It’s
Drought unlikely for Prairie crops, rain to delay harvest
The likelihood of a drought developing over Western Canada’s grain and oilseed crops this summer is seen as unlikely because timely precipitation — sometimes in excess — is anticipated. In fact, according to a U.S.-based weather forecaster, the longer-range outlooks suggest rains during the summer could end up stalling the harvest in the fall. Drew
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