Reading Time: 2 minutes A further temporary increase to the interest-free chunk of cash advances available to Canadian farmers, as telegraphed in March’s federal budget, has now gone live. Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau confirmed Wednesday that the interest-free limit under the Advance Payments Program (APP) for the 2023 program year is now $350,000, effective Monday (May 8). The regulatory […] Read more
Feds lock in higher interest-free portion on cash advances
Budget boost in effect as of Monday
Drought curtails Argentina’s latest ‘soy dollar’ scheme
Soy supply 'a very different situation' now
Reading Time: 2 minutes Buenos Aires | Reuters — Farmers participating in Argentina’s “soy dollar” plan to boost exports have traded less than half of the soybeans they had traded at the same point during the previous plan, due to the impact of a drought, the Rosario grains exchange said on Friday. The Argentina government launched its latest “soy […] Read more
Inflation takes a bite
Should we worry if the prices Canadians pay at the checkout influence what they think of farmers?
Reading Time: 3 minutes When a television reporter recently tweeted a photo of a package of boneless, skinless chicken breasts in the meat department at Loblaws with a price tag of $37, the backlash was swift. The responses ranged from “eat less meat” to a less polite “let it rot on the shelf,” and they all had one thing […] Read more
Maple Leaf sees ‘inflection point’ beyond red ink of 2022
Packer books net losses in Q4, full-year
Reading Time: 3 minutes Another of Canada’s major pork and poultry packers has reported significant net losses in its 2022 ledger, but sees “green shoots” suggesting a return to normal pork markets and stable supply chains this year. Maple Leaf Foods on Thursday reported a net loss of $311.89 million on $4.739 billion in gross sales for its fiscal […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans end higher in choppy trade
CBOT corn mixed, wheat down; MGEX, K.C. wheats up
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures inched higher on Thursday while corn ended narrowly mixed after a choppy session as traders weighed poor crop prospects in Argentina against the expanding harvest of a massive Brazilian soybean crop and fears of rising interest rates, analysts said. Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) wheat futures fell on […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle ease on profit-taking
February cattle lower after nearing eight-year top; hogs follow cash prices higher
Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures closed lower on Tuesday on profit-taking after rising to the highest levels in nearly eight years, with worries about the health of the U.S. economy adding to bearish sentiment, analysts said. Benchmark April live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange settled down 0.425 cent at 164.675 […] Read more
Federal NDP ag critic to handle food inflation file
Mini-shuffle follows new critic portfolio
Reading Time: 2 minutes Canada’s federal New Democrats have appointed their critic for agriculture and agri-food to a new point position on a major issue for the fourth-ranked opposition party. After the House of Commons resumed sitting last Monday (Jan. 30), NDP leader Jagmeet Singh on Friday named Alistair MacGregor, MP for the Vancouver Island riding of Cowichan-Malahat-Langford, to […] Read more
Competition Bureau to probe soaring food prices
Retail food prices seen outpacing inflation
Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — Canada’s competition watchdog said on Monday it would examine factors impacting soaring food prices and whether more competition in the grocery stores sector could help lower costs for Canadians. Price rises for store-bought food have been outpacing the broader annual inflation rate for 10 consecutive months, and grew 11.4 per cent in September, […] Read more
Klassen: Demand fears cause feeder cattle market volatility
Barley values continue upward
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $4 higher to as much as $6 lower. Strength was noted in the eastern Prairie regions while the market was softer in Alberta. Western Canadian calves were extremely volatile, trading $5 higher to as much as $10 lower in some cases. It’s not uncommon for markets […] Read more
Klassen: Steady demand underpins feeder cattle complex
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, Alberta yearling markets traded $2-$4 on either side of unchanged; however, 800-pound-plus cattle in Manitoba and Saskatchewan appeared to trade $4-$6 higher. Yearling prices across the Prairies are now relatively even with no freight discounts from major southern Alberta markets. Calf markets are becoming more defined with larger volumes on offer. […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
