Feed weekly outlook: Prices continue to soften as April approaches

Seeding start in Alberta remains a question mark

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Published: March 30, 2023

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(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

MarketsFarm — Corn is still moving into feedlots in southern Alberta as it approaches not only the end of its contracts, but also the end of winter.

“We’ve been seeing here in Lethbridge prices at $395-$400 per tonne ($10.03-$10.16 per bushel),” said Erin Harakal, trade manager at Agfinity Inc. at Stony Plain, Alta. “It seems like (feedlots) still have a bit left to go through.”

Harakal also added that feed barley prices in Lethbridge have been between $405-$410/tonne ($8.82-$8.93/bu.) after softening over the past two weeks, while in central Alberta, oats have ranged from $3.60-$3.90/bu.

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“Over the next week or so, prices will continue to soften,” she said. “It doesn’t seem like prices will start going up anytime soon.”

Most, if not all of Alberta remains snow-covered; there is no set date for when grain growers will begin seeding.

“I know it doesn’t seem like we’ve got too much snow this winter, so that might impact the amount of moisture going into this spring,” Harakal said. “But you never know. Things could definitely change over the next couple of weeks as we get into April weather.”

As of Wednesday, the high-delivered bid for feed barley in Alberta was $9.14/bu., down 22 cents from last month and down 65 cents from last year, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire. In Saskatchewan, the high-delivered bid was $7.90/bu. (down 63 cents from last year) and in Manitoba, it was $7.25/bu. (down $1.62 from a year ago).

For feed wheat, the high-delivered bid in Alberta was $11.70/bu., down 22 cents from last month and down $2.18/bu. from last year. In Saskatchewan, the high-delivered bid was $10.75/bu. (down 50 cents from one month earlier and down $1.25 from one year ago), while in Manitoba, it was $10.34/bu. (36 cents lower than one month ago and $1.44 less than one year ago).

— Adam Peleshaty reports for MarketsFarm from Stonewall, Man.

About The Author

Adam Peleshaty

Adam Peleshaty

Reporter

Adam Peleshaty is a longtime resident of Stonewall, Man., living next door to his grandparents’ farm. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in statistics from the University of Winnipeg. Before joining Glacier FarmMedia, Adam was an award-winning community newspaper reporter in Manitoba's Interlake. He is a Winnipeg Blue Bombers season ticket holder and worked as a timekeeper in hockey, curling, basketball and football.

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