Some prairie barley growers had been salivating at the notion of being able to fill their trucks with barley and haul it to U.S. elevators for big money. But a North Dakota farm leader says the big money isn’t there, and farmers on his side of the border might have some unfriendly words for Canadian […] Read more
Ed White
Stories by Ed White
Ag commodities caught in panic
Farmers busy with harvest might have been ignoring the markets. That’s probably a good thing, because last week the sinking subprime market of poorly backed mortgages in the U.S. not only slammed worldwide stocks, but also dented the crop markets that determine grain farmers’ incomes for the coming year. However, advisers say it’s far too […] Read more
Barley sales need keen eye
Many farmers are relieved to finally be able to see barley Pool Return Outlooks. But while the PROs reveal the prices that farmers who use Canadian Wheat Board pools will likely receive, they still leave many farmers with feed barley having to decide whether to sell through the board or to the local domestic market. […] Read more
Durum buyers wary of supply
Canadian durum growers are raking in the cash from new markets and booming world prices. But some of Canada’s best durum customers warn that the kind of world crop supply problems that have produced the high prices are forcing customers to cut their pasta production. “At this time we have a little problem with the […] Read more
Manitoba oats good, Sask. spotty
Oat growers in the south Red River Valley are beginning to bring in a fat harvest. “They’re pretty heavy,” said Emerson Milling buyer Jared Firlotte about local crops, which are generally about 110 pounds per bushel. “Everything around here looks good.” That’s happy news in the light of stumbling oat prices, which while defying last […] Read more
New barley PRO released
Farmers finally have a current barley Pool Return Outlook from the Canadian Wheat Board. But many will be disturbed to see most malting barley prices little above where they were April 18, when barley PROs were cancelled because of the potential loss of the CWB barley monopoly. Feed barley prices have risen more. Special Select […] Read more
Barley prices rebound since ruling
The Federal Court of Canada’s decision to block the breaking of the barley monopoly sent barley futures prices plunging, right?The answer appears to be: Yes and No. Analysts and traders agree that the sudden change in who had the right to market the crop caused a short-term sell-off of the Winnipeg Commodity Exchange’s barley contract. […] Read more
Safety package provides information, support
Machinery is one of the biggest risks to a farmer’s life and ability to keep farming. But injury and disability experts think a new toolkit they’re about to provide might keep more farmers safe, and allow disabled farmers to continue farming. “This is about how to keep farming communities safe,” said Olga Krassioukova-Enns, the executive […] Read more
Country of origin labelling part of bill – Special Report (story 2)
Most people think of the subsidy-rich American farm bill legislation as a crop farmers program, but it also has a major impact on North America’s livestock industries. Producer organizations say the coming farm bill could enshrine and worsen some of the programs that do the most damage to Canada’s livestock industry. John Masswohl, an agricultural […] Read more
Saskatoon berry promoter remembered for enthusiastic approach
If there’s a heaven, John Ritz is no doubt busily convincing the angels to start eating saskatoon berries. The Petersfield, Man., farmer, who died of liver cancer July 27, was legendary for creating markets in places no one expected to find the humble prairie fruit. His sudden death, after only a few weeks warning that […] Read more
