Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Durum bids in Western Canada are holding relatively steady, with prices only seeing small moves over the past month despite larger swings in spring wheat. Durum prices in southern Saskatchewan have traded in the $235-$243 per tonne area over the past month, a relatively narrow $8 trading range compared to Canada Western Red […] Read more
Durum market holds steady despite spring wheat swings
ICE weekly outlook: Uncertain U.S. soy prospects boost canola
Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — ICE Futures canola contracts climbed sharply higher during the week ended Wednesday, hitting their best levels in more than a month as strength in the Chicago Board of Trade soy complex provided spillover support. “We have a bit of a short-covering rally going on in canola,” said Jerry Klassen, manager of Canadian operations […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market finds support
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded steady to $2 lower while calves traded $3 higher to as much as $8 lower. Adverse weather across much of the U.S. Midwest set a negative tone on both sides of the border. U.S. feeder cattle markets were down US$3-$6 from seven days earlier. Corn futures […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market balancing many variables
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded steady to $3 higher while calves were $4 lower to $5 higher depending on the region. Weakness in the live and feeder cattle futures contributed to the variable price structure; however, Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in the range of $268-$270 on a dressed basis, […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market softens on adverse weather
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle prices were quite variable due to adverse weather. Rain and snow plagued much of the Prairies, which dictated buying behaviour. Yearlings traded within $5 on either side of unchanged; major feedlots focused on local cattle, which caused the Alberta markets to trade at a small premium to […] Read more
Klassen: Improving margins underpin feeder market
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearlings advanced $2-$5 while calves were unchanged to $3 higher. April live cattle futures are in a bull market; I’ve had many calls from producers and all I tell them is that April live cattle futures are in a bull market. Just as important, a market will not culminate […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market holding value
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were steady to as much as $4 higher while calf values traded within $5 on either side of unchanged. Current feedlot margins are hovering around break-even, but profitability will improve during October and November, given the recent strength in the deferred live cattle futures. Therefore, short-keep feeders […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market waiting for direction
Reading Time: 2 minutes Average western Canadian feeder prices were relatively unchanged from week-ago levels; however, the yearling market in southern Alberta traded $3-$5 higher as feedlot operators focused on sourcing local cattle. High-quality yearlings are coming on the market and steady demand was evident across the Prairies. Strength in the deferred live cattle futures along with the deterioration […] Read more
Klassen: Strong demand drives yearlings higher
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $2-$3 higher, with quality packages advancing $4-$6. Feedlot operators shrugged off the weaker live cattle futures as feed grain prices came under pressure. Cattle brokers were carrying a full deck of orders, which allowed for limited slippage. Feedlots are anxious to secure ownership early in the […] Read more
Trade predicts fewer pulse acres, another canola record
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
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
