A barley crop south of Ethelton, Sask. on July 30, 2019. (Dave Bedard photo)

Feed weekly outlook: Prairie grains firm, watching new-crop weather

U.S. corn values supportive

Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Tight barley supplies in Western Canada continue to keep the feed market underpinned, with gains in the U.S. corn market also providing support to grain markets in general. “We’re starting to see a bit of an early weather market in the U.S.,” Allen Pirness of Market Place Commodities in Lethbridge said. Rising corn […] Read more

CME August 2021 feeder cattle (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2) and 100-day moving average (black line). (Barchart)

Klassen: Stronger demand drives feeder market

Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were $3 to as much as $6 higher, but calf prices were relatively unchanged. Major feedlot operators were very aggressive on heavier calves and yearlings weighing 700-850 lbs. Yearlings over 850 lbs. were also well bid but not as strong as their lighter-weight counterparts. Feed barley prices […] Read more


(Vaclav Volrab/iStock/Getty Images)

Feed weekly outlook: Alternatives in greater demand

Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Price increases for feed barley and wheat in Western Canada have caused more feeders to look elsewhere for sustenance for their livestock. Prices over the last year have shot up 25 to 40 per cent, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire. “Any time you run into a high-priced commodity market, the cost of feeding […] Read more

Lodging presents a much higher risk of yield and quality reductions and economic losses if barley can’t be sold for malting.

PGRs for malting barley? Maybe

Research suggests plant growth regulators should be considered as a risk-management tool in fields with high yield potential

Reading Time: 4 minutes [UPDATED: April 12, 2021] Lodging is the enemy of barley producers, especially if they’re hoping for a malting premium. It’s prompted some producers to get out of barley altogether. Others are turning to plant growth regulators (PGRs) to help cut their losses. Sheri Strydhorst, a research scientist at the University of Alberta, says lodging is […] Read more


The USDA building in Washington, D.C. (Art Wager/iStock/Getty Images)

Klassen: Feeder market digests USDA acreage report

Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets were relatively unchanged. Lower flesh yearlings appeared to trade $2-$3 higher in certain pockets of Alberta but replacements carrying excessive butter experienced severe discounts of $6 to as much as $10 in some cases. October and December live cattle futures made fresh contract highs, which underpinned […] Read more



(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Prices to remain strong in spring

Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Higher prices for feed grains in Western Canada are expected to stay that way, according to a trader in Alberta. Erin Harakal, senior trader for Agfinity at Stony Plain, Alta., said factors such as increased demand overseas and depleted domestic stocks will continue to keep prices elevated for feed grains. While she doesn’t […] Read more

CME May 2021 feeder cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

Klassen: Feeder market remains volatile

Feed grain values remain firm

Reading Time: 2 minutes Last week, western Canadian yearling markets were traded $2-$4 above week-ago levels from Monday through Wednesday; however, buyers backed away from the market on Thursday and Friday as feeder cattle futures fell nearly $7 from Wednesday’s high. By the end of the week, yearlings were relatively unchanged from week-ago levels. Calf prices were relatively flat […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Wheat stocks should limit barley’s further upside

Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Feed barley bids in Western Canada remain strong, although ample wheat supplies should limit the upside heading into the new growing season. Feed barley in the Lethbridge region of southern Alberta is currently trading at around $305-$310 per tonne, according to Jim Beusekom of Market Place Commodities. Prices for delivery later in the […] Read more