Getting good malting barley is getting hard. That’s what two of Canada’s export barley customers say about finding the beer ingredient in the world market. “It is more difficult,” said Japanese maltster Masaharu Sugiura in an interview during a visit to the Canadian International Grains Institute in Winnipeg. Colombian maltster Carlos Andres Badel Robles agreed. […] Read more
Ed White
Stories by Ed White
Funding to destroy SRMs welcomed
WINNIPEG – Money announced to dispose of specified risk material (SRM) sugar-coated the beginning of the enhanced feed ban and created an optimistic atmosphere in the muddy auction market yard. “Producers want this issue dealt with,” said Treasury Board minister Vic Toews, , announcing $17.2 in federal-provincial funding to encourage entrepreneurs and others to find […] Read more
Manitoba farmers brace for disease
The air is deceptively calm in Manitoba’s Red River Valley, now that the region’s spray planes are grounded or have flown off to cover the west. The apparently excellent state of the canola crop gives away nothing of the menace that is lurking. Within a few weeks, farmers in the valley will discover whether the […] Read more
Canola shining like gold this year
Canola is getting pretty old to be referred to as the Cinderella crop of the Prairies. But the mature oilseed crop is certainly a princess this year, with farmers enjoying excellent crops and good price projections. Usually big crops mean low prices, but this year canola is being pushed higher by the predicted dearth of […] Read more
Two paths predicted for barley’s future
The barley market is getting a divorce. But the division isn’t between the Canadian Wheat Board and the open market. It’s between the feed and malting markets, and it’s a growing divide that will probably affect production in the future. “Regardless of the whole board, non-board issue, I think you’re going to see greater production […] Read more
Restaurant serves up local fare
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The food on the menu of the Fire Lake Grill House immediately strikes the diner as unusual and exotic. Most downtown hotel restaurants don’t offer a walleye hash with asparagus and wild rice as a main breakfast offering. What’s strange about it is that it is a menu based on food that’s […] Read more
Winnipeg exchange in U.S. hands
Another prairie grain industry stalwart and Winnipeg icon has fallen to an outside acquirer. But even though ICE is moving into the prairie grain futures business, farmers don’t appear to be getting chilled. “I don’t think it really matters,” said Newdale, Man., farmer Bruce Dalgarno about the proposed Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) buyout of the Winnipeg […] Read more
Town takes brunt of stormy weekend
ELIE, Man. – It looks like a freight train skipped the tracks behind the Prairie Flour Mills plant, smashed up the facility and dragged debris along a careening course that roared right through town. But it’s a train wreck that left no tracks to follow, because the sound many local people heard June 22 was […] Read more
Barley prices ride on low supply
Boring old barley is an exciting crop this year for one big reason. “Overall, everywhere, barley is tightening up,” said Canadian Wheat Board barley market analyst Neil Townsend. Prices for feed and malting barley have been strong so far this year and that appears to be almost certain to continue for a few months. Last […] Read more
Wheat prices offset by costly inputs
Starbuck, Man., farmer Ed Rempel hasn’t broken out the champagne to toast today’s high wheat prices. Something nags at the back of his mind. “The fertilizer is eating it all up,” said Rempel, as wheat prices floated around 11 year highs. “I feel relieved, not happy.” On charts and in raw numbers, wheat prices look […] Read more
