Reading Time: 3 minutes First off, I must apologize for not producing an update to the last forecast; I had the opportunity to do some backwoods camping, which meant I was off the grid for about five days. I’m back now, and from the weather model runs I’ve been able to check out, this forecast period is going to […] Read more
Prairie Forecast: Cooler and unsettled
Issued Aug. 9, covering Aug. 9 to 16
Klassen: Upward momentum in feeder market eases
Feedlots seen in 'risk assessment mode'
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets were relatively unchanged. Higher-quality groups of yearling heifers appeared to trade steady to $2 higher on average while steer markets traded $3-$4 higher to $2 lower. Calf prices are unchanged from seven days earlier. The rally in deferred live cattle futures has stalled for the time […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Influx of cheaper U.S. corn pushing down prices
Weaker Chicago corn prices led to a 50-cent/bu. drop in Alberta feed barley, wheat
Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm – Feed grain prices took a tumble this week in Alberta, said Susanne Leclerc of Market Master Ltd. in Edmonton. “It’s kind of shocking. I know we had some harvest start in the southern part [of the province]. It seems to have really affected prices. Of course, corn got cheap with the futures dropping […] Read more
Prairie forecast: Warm-hot start then slow cooldown
Issued August 2, covering August 2 to 9
Reading Time: 3 minutes The weather models have been doing a good job with the overall weather picture over the last several weeks, despite a fairly unsettled, tough-to-figure-out weather pattern. In this next forecast period, it will again be tough to figure out some of the finer details as our region experiences weak highs, lows, and even the possibility […] Read more
Klassen: U.S. feeder markets lead Canadian prices higher
Dry conditions in Saskatchewan and parts of Alberta are moving yearlings off grass sooner than expected
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, Western Canadian yearling markets once again jumped $3-$5/cwt on average. Higher quality 900-pound steers are reaching up to the range of $310-$315/cwt. Comments from readers suggest that 850-900-pound steers are trading up to $315-$320/cwt. Calves in the 500-550-pound range are reaching just over the $400/cwt level. Dryer conditions in Saskatchewan and […] Read more
UPDATE prairie forecast: unsettled start as sub-arctic high builds in
Issued July 26, covers July 26 to August 2
Reading Time: 4 minutes Update: A low tracking through central prairies is a little weaker than expected. This will result in less precipitation with showers, thundershowers, and storms being less widespread. Another issue is the smoke which can be difficult to predict. In areas with smoke, we see cooler than expected daytime highs. An upper ridge that brought plenty […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: wheat, barley prices still on the rise
Demand for feed grains on the quiet side as feedlots order more United States corn says analyst
Reading Time: < 1 minute Marketsfarm – Variable crop conditions in Alberta and Saskatchewan are contributing to rising feed grain prices on the Prairies just weeks away from harvest. Erin Harakal, trade manager for Agfinity Inc. in Stony Plain, Alta., said while conditions in the northern half of Alberta are good in some places, areas around Red Deer and parts […] Read more
Updated prairie forecast: unsettled start as sub-arctic high builds in
Issued July 26, covers July 26 to August 2
Reading Time: 4 minutes Update: A low tracking through central prairies is a little weaker than expected. This will result in less precipitation with showers, thundershowers, and storms being less widespread. Another issue is the smoke which can be difficult to predict. Areas with smoke we see cooler than expected daytime highs. An upper ridge that brought plenty of […] Read more
Klassen: tight supplies continue to underpin feeder complex
Feedlot operators shrug off past week's rally in the corn market
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, Western Canadian yearling markets traded $2-$5/cwt higher on average while calves were up $5/cwt to as much as $10/cwt in some cases. Feather light calves under 500 pounds reached fresh historical highs with 300-400 pound steers trading from $400-$450/cwt in Southern Alberta. Finishing feedlots continue to be aggressive on yearlings for […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Dry weather cuts into barley prospects
Canadian buyers already booking new-crop U.S. corn
Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Dry weather across the Canadian Prairies may be cutting into barley production prospects, keeping domestic feed prices underpinned for the time being despite the likelihood of large corn imports from the United States. Alberta’s barley crop was only rated 43 per cent good to excellent in the latest weekly report, well off the […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
