(Thinkstock photo)

Prairie cash wheat: U.S. futures drag on bids

Futures drop to multi-month lows

Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Wheat futures on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) hit multi-month lows, which put pressure on Western Canadian wheat bids, during the week ended Thursday. Despite tighter wheat supplies in the U.S. and worldwide compared to last year, as well as the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, wheat futures reached depths which weren’t […] Read more

CBOT March 2023 oats with 20- and 50-day moving averages. (Barchart)

Feed weekly outlook: Wheat, barley eschewed for other grains

Oats, corn finding demand as feed

Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Feed wheat and barley prices in Alberta’s feedlot alley are coming down, largely due to the increasing presence of corn imported from the U.S. The high-delivered bid for Alberta feed barley on Wednesday was $9.80 per bushel, 11 cents lower than the previous week and 22 cents lower than one month earlier, according […] Read more


(TrouwNutrition.ca)

International joint venture buys Prairie layer hatchery

ILD, Trouw Nutrition to co-own Clark's Poultry

Reading Time: 2 minutes A Manitoba company providing day-old layer chicks to poultry producers in the three Prairie provinces is under new joint ownership. International Layer Distribution (ILD), a subsidiary of German egg layer breeding firm EW Group, and Trouw Nutrition Canada, a livestock feed arm of Nutreco, on Monday announced their joint venture has acquired Clark’s Poultry for […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder cattle market experiences diverse price behaviour

Manitoba calves hold a premium over Sask., Alta.

Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded steady to $2 higher while calf prices were unchanged to $4 lower. Yearling supplies are limited and there appeared to be a surge of buying interest for 850-lb. thin-fleshed replacements. Alberta fed cattle basis levels for the second quarter of 2023 have above average and the […] Read more


(Thinkstock photo)

Prairie cash wheat: Bids drop with U.S. futures

Canadian dollar also down on week

Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Spring wheat bids in Western Canada moved lower during the week ended Thursday, as U.S. wheat futures posted losses — although softness in the Canadian dollar did provide some underlying support. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS, 13.5 per cent protein) wheat prices were down by $3.50-$6.40 per tonne across the Prairies, according […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Looming corn imports to keep lid on Prairie barley

Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Large shipments of corn from the U.S., slated for delivery to Alberta’s feedlot alley, should keep domestic barley prices under pressure going forward, according to an analyst. “The barley price here will gradually decline,” said Errol Anderson of Pro Market Communications in Calgary, adding that up to 30 unit trains of U.S. corn […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder market rations demand

Risk discount built in with adverse weather

Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were relatively unchanged while calf prices were steady to $6 lower. Demand from Ontario buyers caused markets in Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan to hold value. Alberta prices were under pressure as the market appears to be rationing demand. Calf prices are 25-30 per cent higher than year-ago […] Read more

(Town of Taber via Facebook)

Police help round up Alberta ostriches on lam

Several wander into Taber, become social media stars

Reading Time: 2 minutes Most of a flock of farmed ostriches that got free of their pen near the southern Alberta town of Taber have been rounded up, but not before grabbing their proverbial 15 minutes’ fame. Taber-Vauxhall RCMP said in a release Thursday afternoon that they began receiving reports shortly before 8 a.m. that day of ostriches on […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Grain prices expected to hold firm

'The farmer doesn't seem super interested in selling'

Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Feed prices on the Prairies are likely to remain steady through to the new year, according to Brandon Motz of CorNine Commodities at Lacombe, Alta. “I think the markets for now are to be flat,” he said, noting there has been talk in the market of 25 trains of U.S. corn that have […] Read more

CME August 2023 live cattle (candlesticks) beneath CME December 2023 live cattle (top line),  The spread between the two has been influencing the price structure for calves, Jerry Klassen writes. (Barchart)

Klassen: Stronger deferred live cattle futures support feeder market

Fall run seen moving into final stages

Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian calf markets traded $5 lower to as much as $3 higher. Quality groups of heifers weighing 550-700 lbs. were notably $2-$3 higher and this was largely due to lower supplies of steers. Weather conditions improved in southern Alberta, which was supportive; however, buyers were cautious. Quality pre-conditioned calves held […] Read more