Reading Time: 2 minutes For the week ending June 13, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were relatively unchanged compared to seven days earlier. Steady demand underpinned a week of lower auction market volumes.
Klassen: Feeder market follows wholesale beef higher
Prairie forecast: Where did the summer heat go?
Forecast issued June 11, covering June 11 to 18, 2025
Reading Time: 2 minutes Looking at the big picture we start this forecast period with a generally zonal flow across the Prairies as Arctic high pressure slides across the far northern Prairies and weak low pressure moves by to the south. This will bring sunny to partly cloudy skies and near to slightly below-average temperatures.
Klassen: Stronger fed cattle markets lifts feeder complex
Reading Time: 2 minutes For the week ending June 7, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded steady to as much as $15/cwt higher in some cases. Larger packages of quality replacements over 900 pounds were up $10-$15/cwt from prices seven days earlier.
Prairie forecast: Summer pattern making forecast difficult
Forecast issued June 4, covering June 4-11, 2025
Reading Time: 3 minutes We start this forecast period off with an area of low pressure over far northern Manitoba that is slowly moving off into Hudson Bay. To the west, an area of low pressure is developing over the Yukon which is helping to develop a weak ridge of high pressure over Alberta. Over southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba weak high pressure is in place.
As seeding nears end in Alberta, moisture becoming an issue
Planting advances 10 points at 90 per cent complete
Reading Time: 2 minutes Spring planting in Alberta entered the home stretch with overall progress at 90 per cent seeded as of May 27, the province's agriculture department reported. Provincewide, the pace put Alberta farmers nine points above the five-year average.
Prairie forecast: Mostly warm and dry weather expected
Forecast issued May 28, covering May 28 to June 4, 2025
Reading Time: 3 minutes We start off with high pressure dominating most of the Prairies. A large surface high is sitting over the north-central U.S. This is beginning to tap into more heat and moisture, which will allow for warmer daytime highs and nighttime lows as dewpoints creep up.
Klassen: Lower beef production forecasts support feeder complex
Reading Time: 2 minutes Improving feedlot margins contributed to the stronger feeder market. Alberta packers were buying finished cattle on a dressed basis at $500/cwt delivered which was fresh record high. Using a 60 per cent grading, this equates to a live price of $300/cwt. Feedlot breakeven pen closeouts are in the range of $260-$270/cwt. Feedlots are anxious to reload and larger groups of quality packages are limited at this time of year.
Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture to hold Alberta forum
The Americas Agriculture and Food Security Forum will be held at Olds College and run parallel to the G7 meeting in Kananaskis
Reading Time: 3 minutes Canada's office of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA) will host the 2025 Americas Agriculture and Food Security Forum at Olds College at the same time as the G7 summit on June 15-17.
Prairie forecast: Cool and damp, then sunny and warm
Forecast issued May 21, covering May 21 to 28, 2025
Reading Time: 3 minutes For this forecast period, it seems set to dry out and warm up. I suppose that's good for the areas that recently received significant rainfall and not so good for those regions dealing with fires.
Alberta seeding leaps ahead by almost 30 points
Moisture levels still strong despite declines
Reading Time: 2 minutes Spring planting in Alberta made a 27-point jump at 47 per cent complete during the week ended May 13, according to the latest crop report from the province. That's 21 points above the five-year average.
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
