Barley south of Ethelton, Sask. on Aug. 3, 2017. (Dave Bedard photo)

Barley ‘price war’ seen sparked by China, Saudi demand drop

Reading Time: 2 minutes Paris | Reuters — A drop in demand from China and Saudi Arabia sent barley prices tumbling in recent weeks, despite low global supply, and price pressure may continue if harvest prospects for next season remain good, analysts at Strategie Grains said. The barley market rallied earlier in the 2018-19 season with weather-hit crops in […] Read more

(Country Guide file photo)

Feed weekly outlook: Little to change for Prairie prices

Reading Time: < 1 minute As feedlots reduce their cattle numbers, demand for feed grains has declined on the Canadian Prairies, according to Market Place Commodities trader Allen Pirness at Lethbridge. “It’s a pretty calm time of year. The feedlots are shipping a lot of fat cattle more than they are replacing. Their grain consumption drops off a little bit […] Read more



(File photo)

Feed weekly outlook: Tight supplies, good demand support barley

Reading Time: < 1 minute Solid demand, both domestically and internationally, coupled with tightening world supplies is keeping barley bids well supported in Western Canada and should lead to increased acres this spring. “The price of feed barley is staying historically high,” said Brian Otto, chair of the Barley Council of Canada, noting feed barley at Lethbridge was currently trading […] Read more



(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Cheap corn, Prairie harvest quality weigh on prices

Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — Cheap corn imports and adverse Prairie harvest conditions should mean no shortage of feed grain in Alberta’s feedlot alley this winter — which should also keep prices under pressure going forward. “Anytime you get a ripe crop and you get snow and rain falling on it, it normally doesn’t make better quality,” […] Read more


(Allan Dawson file photo)

Feed weekly outlook: Lethbridge feedlots buying U.S. corn

Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — As barley prices climb, feedlots around Lethbridge have found a cheaper feed option: corn from the U.S. “Price has (pushed feedlots to buy corn). Barley, it’s probably $4, $5 a tonne higher than corn price right now. And the cattle feeder can source corn quite easily and more economically than barley,” said […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder cattle market softens

Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were $2-$5 lower on average while calf markets were relatively unchanged. Weakness in deferred live cattle futures, along with stronger barley prices, set a negative tone. Most of the Prairies have received less than 40 per cent of normal precipitation over the last 30 days, but this […] Read more


Photo: File

Early harvest pressures Prairie barley prices

Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — Barley prices in Western Canada are falling as an early harvest is weighing on values. “Prices have moderated here,” said Allen Pirness of Market Place Commodities Ltd. Lethbridge, Alta. The surprise rally from last week ended as quickly as it began. Prices which started last week at about C$250 per tonne were […] Read more

Barley south of Ethelton, Sask. on Aug. 3, 2017. (Dave Bedard photo)

Klassen: Weaker barley prices enhance yearling prices

Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, yearlings traded $3 to as much as $8 higher, with strong buying interest noted from Lethbridge-area feedlots. Supplies of quality feeders are rather snug at this time of year and buyers were extremely aggressive on local packages. Prices in the non-major feeding areas appeared to lag southern Alberta markets but orders […] Read more