(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder market shrugs off lower barley production

Barley exports, domestic demand expected to be reduced

Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $2-$3/cwt on either side of unchanged. Prices for calves were also unchanged from average values seven days earlier. Calf markets are becoming more defined as volumes increase. There also appeared to be larger volume of high-quality yearlings available, which was a surprise. The drought hasn’t significantly […] Read more

(Thinkstock photo)

Prairie cash wheat: Bids, futures take tumbles

Canadian dollar sees slight gain on week

Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Western Canadian wheat bids were lower throughout during the week ended Thursday, with Canada Western Red Spring wheat seeing the largest declines. Statistics Canada (StatCan) released its first model-based production estimates for 2023-24 on Tuesday. Based on data compiled up to July 31, StatCan estimated total Canadian wheat production at 29.472 million tonnes, […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Feed barley, wheat prices coming down

Feedlots' use of U.S. corn adds pressure

Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Despite a hot and dry summer across much of the Prairies, prices for feed barley and feed wheat have fallen off over the past month. The high-delivered bid for Alberta feed barley was $8.06 per bushel, $1.42 less than one month ago, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire. Those in Saskatchewan and Manitoba were […] Read more

ICE November 2023 canola with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: Harvest pressure, farmer selling to guide canola

New StatCan figures 'right around expectations'

Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Any fanfare from the long-awaited production estimates from Statistics Canada released on Tuesday was gone by the next day. ICE canola futures initially jumped by double digits that morning, but throughout that session the gains faded. By the end of Wednesday’s session, canola was down. “The StatCan report came in right around expectations. […] Read more


Durum plants on Aug. 28, 2023 near Acadia Valley, Alta., about 160 km north of Medicine Hat, stand shorter with fewer kernels than normal due to dry conditions. (Photo courtesy Darold Niwa/Handout via Reuters)

Prairie Forecast: Mostly sunny and warm

Issued Aug. 30, covering Aug. 30 to Sept. 6

Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s a straightforward forecast for this period as the general weather pattern looks to be pretty quiet. It starts with a large area of high pressure centred over the Great Lakes with a weak area of low pressure over Alberta. The Great Lakes high will put sunny skies and warm temperatures over much of Manitoba […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Calf numbers down in Western Canada

StatCan figures a surprise to the trade

Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets were relatively unchanged. Yearlings straight off grass were very well bid and prices held value. Yearlings over 800 lbs. on light grain ration were quoted $15-$20 discount to those cattle coming straight off pasture. We’re seeing heavier calves around 800 lbs. trade at $330-$340. Increased calf numbers […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Barley, wheat prices now steady

U.S. corn imports keep lid on barley values

Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Prices for feed barley and wheat didn’t change much for the most part during the week ended Thursday, according to Erin Harakal of Agfinity at Stony Plain, Alta. “This week it has been pretty steady compared to the end of last week,” Harakal said, noting barley prices dropped about $20 per tonne. “Just […] Read more

Prairie forecast: unsettled to start then clearing and warmer

Prairie forecast: unsettled to start then clearing and warmer

Issued Aug. 23, covering Aug. 23 to 30

Reading Time: 3 minutes Once again, the weather models are in good agreement so confidence in this forecast is fairly high. The only possible issue is that the different weather systems are rather weak which means timing of the systems can change easily. This forecast period starts off with two weak areas of low pressure, one over southern Manitoba, […] Read more


(Geralyn Wichers photo)

Klassen: Feedlots aggressively secure ownership

StatCan cattle inventory report due out soon

Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, yearlings straight off grass sold $3-$5 higher on average. In certain cases, larger groups of higher quality genetics traded $8-$12 above week-ago levels. Auction markets had larger volumes this past week and there was strong demand across all weight categories. It’s that time of year when major operations are stepping forward […] Read more

Close-up from the federal government’s initial assessment map for the livestock tax deferral provision for the 2023 tax year as of Aug. 10. (AAFC map)

Livestock tax deferral list begins in West for 2023

AgriRecovery work 'progressing,' feds say

Reading Time: 3 minutes The level of drought in parts of Western Canada so far this year has given the federal government a head start in drafting its list of jurisdictions where producers can get in on the livestock tax deferral provision. Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay on Monday announced an initial list of designated regions for the provision for […] Read more