With the renegotiation of NAFTA slated to begin in just a few short weeks, the Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC) has been working diligently to assess the potential impacts of these trade talks on the Canadian grains sector, and to communicate producers’ concerns to the federal government.
“Leftovers” isn’t a term that generally gets one’s heartrate up. However, from a market outlook perspective, the “leftovers” from the previous year (referred to as the “ending stocks” or “carryout”) is of critical importance. In many ways, it can be considered the most important number on the supply and demand balance sheet. Analysts and traders rely heavily on ending stocks when trying to determine where prices may go. This is an important reminder when trying to make sense of wheat price activity over the past several months.
“To me, growing up in the agricultural industry, there’s such misconception of what farmers do,” says Origin Malting & Brewing co-owner and product manager Kyle Geeraert. He and business partner Josh Michaluk are launching their Strathmore malting and brewing business on Aug. 4, in time to take part in Alberta Open Farm Days, Aug. 19-20, 2017.
In 2016, the founder and former CEO of communications agency AdFarm initiated and advanced a national strategy to rebuild public trust in farming and the food industry. A living legend within the agri-food industry and a driven advocate of the farm sector, he was uniquely suited to the task.
Alberta has fewer, but larger, farms and more young, and female, farmers than it did in 2011, according to Statistics Canada farm and farm operator data from the 2016 Census of Agriculture.
There are no shortcuts to the top of the malting barley heap. More than 15 years after becoming a registered variety, CDC Copeland has become the most widely grown malting barley variety in Western Canada, pushing stalwart AC Metcalfe into second place.
The first ever FutureFarm Canada Expo, organized by dmg events in partnership with the historic Olds College, will be held this July.
On No v. 3, 2016, Transport Minister Marc Garneau announced the federal government’s Transportation 2030 plan, which will include new legislation that will address several priority areas for grain transportation. Industry stakeholders have been pushing for these measures for a long time.
Jody Klassen is one of many farmers across central and northern Alberta who really don’t see a happy ending for the story that played out late in 2016, leaving more than one million acres of grain and oilseed crops left unharvested under snow. All he can do is make the best of a bad situation.
For western Canadian grain producers, the 2016/17 growing season saw environmental conditions that were nearly perfect—perfect for a dramatic increase in Fusarium graminearum in their wheat crops, that is. As a result, the year revealed several potential drawbacks to Canada’s current wheat grading system.
