Reading Time: 3 minutes CNS Canada — With the uncertainty regarding the pulse exports to India, it’s looking like 2018 could see more canola acres planted in Canada. Statistics Canada will release its Principal Field Crop Areas report on Friday (April 27). Last year saw Canada’s canola area at a record 23 million acres, but this year could again […] Read more

Trade predicts fewer pulse acres, another canola record

Klassen: Feeder market lacks demand in new tax year
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle traded $8-$10 lower while U.S. prices were also down $5-$10 from week-ago levels. The feeder market appeared to short-circuit after I thought the market was charged to move higher in last week’s report. Feedlot operators and cattle feeders saturated their demand prior to the New Year and […] Read more

Klassen: Feeder market ends 2017 on positive tone
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $2 to as much as $6 higher. Moderate to stronger buying interest was noted across the Prairies. Once again, feedlot operators were fairly aggressive on quality yearling packages; semi-weaned and weaned calves were a solid $3-$5 higher while unweaned lighter calves experienced minimal price appreciation. […] Read more

Klassen: Feeder market rally stalls
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were relatively unchanged from week-ago levels. Eastern Prairie markets were softer but continue to maintain a $5 to as much as $8 premium over major feeding regions of Alberta. We’ve seen a sharp year-over-year increase in imports from the U.S., which is causing a variable price structure to develop across […] Read more

Klassen: Beef demand drives feeder market higher
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, Western Canadian yearling prices were $5 higher on average; calves traded $3 to as much as $6 above week ago levels. Strength in fed cattle prices quickly spilled over into the feeder complex, especially on shorter keep replacements. On Friday, Alberta packers were buying fed cattle from $247 to $250 on […] Read more

Klassen: Feeder cattle market remains firm
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian yearling markets were trading $3 to as much as $6 above week-ago levels while calf prices were relatively unchanged. The Canadian dollar was under pressure all week, closing Friday at US77.85 cents, the lowest levels since mid-July. At the same time, April live cattle futures made fresh contract highs, reflecting a week-over-week gain […] Read more

Klassen: Feeder market anticipates higher feed grain prices
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, Western Canadian yearling prices were steady to $5 higher. Across the prairies, strong demand was noted on limited offerings. Most auction barns are gearing up for major sales over the next couple weeks; however, it appears that a few ranchers were testing the waters and the results were quite surprising. Feedlot operators […] Read more

Klassen: Calm feeder market prior to fall run
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were hard to define over the past week given the limited numbers on offer. Most sale barns remain in holiday mode and the few cattle coming on the market were of various quality. Lighter weight feeders were trading $3 to as much as $10 lower compared to week ago levels; […] Read more

Klassen: Tenacious feeder market softens on supply forecasts
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle prices traded steady to as much as $5 lower over the past week. Early in the week, buyers incorporated a risk discount due to the extremely cold temperatures, especially in the Eastern prairie regions. By Thursday, markets were factoring in the larger beef supply forecasts from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, […] Read more

Durum marketing 101
Durum is grown in a few distinct regions of the world, and problems in just one can mean a sharp change in prices
Reading Time: 4 minutes If you’re selling bread wheat — Triticum aestivum — there’s a new price signal literally every second as it’s traded on futures markets. If you’re selling its cousin T. durum, finding a fair value is another matter. There’s no viable futures market for durum wheat, and there can be days or even weeks between trades […] Read more