Reading Time: 3 minutes In a nutshell, it looks like Saskatchewan and Manitoba will see dry weather and nice, warm, spring temperatures. Alberta is going to have to deal with colder air being drawn southwards into the developing storm system over the south-central U.S. Along with the colder air, southern Alberta may deal with some more snow as moisture is pulled northward and then westward on the eastern side of the low.
Prairie forecast: Cooler and unsettled west, mild and dry east
Forecast issued April 3, covering April 3 to 10
Klassen: Feeder market resumes the climb
Reading Time: 2 minutes For the week ending March 30, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $4 to $6 higher on average. Fleshier backgrounded yearlings were relatively unchanged. Buyers were fairly cautious on backgrounded heifers with some packages actually softer than seven days earlier. Larger strings of quality genetic, low flesh steers were up $6 to as much as $10 in some cases. Weaned, premium, calves were up a solid $5 to $6 on average.
Feed Grain Weekly: Barley prices up weeks before seeding
Reading Time: 2 minutes Southern Alberta is seeing a slight bump up in feed barley prices, according to one trader.
Prairie forecast: Spring trying to regain control
Forecast issued March 27, covering March 27 to April 3, 2024
Reading Time: < 1 minute The main weather maker will be a trough of low pressure forecasted to develop over the northwestern U.S. today, which will then track eastwards over the next several days.
Klassen: Feeder market rally stalls
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were quoted $3-$4/cwt on either side of unchanged.
Prairie forecast: Is winter making one last push?
Issued March 20, covering March 20-27, 2024
Reading Time: 2 minutes A sprawling Arctic high pressure system is poised to dominate the region, ushering in colder-than-normal temperatures reminiscent of January's grip, but not as cold. While cold snaps this time of year often bring snow, the prevailing high pressure suggests storm activity will largely skirt the area, save for southern and southwestern Alberta where significant snowfall is anticipated.
Klassen: Feeder market adjusts to lower supplies
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian prices for backgrounded replacements were $2 to $4 higher than last week. Lower flesh yearlings were valued $3 to $8 above week-ago levels. Prices for calves under 800 pounds were up $3 to $7 compared to seven days earlier with noted strength in feeders under 600 pounds.
Prairie forecast: Very warm west, mild but a little unsettled east
Issued March 13, covering March 13 to 20
Reading Time: 3 minutes The cold weather has also been replaced by above average temperatures. The question I have been hearing the most is--has spring arrived or is there still a bit of winter left to be felt?
Klassen: Yearling price trend stalls while calves ratchet higher
Larger players aggressively securing lightweight calves on expectations of low yearling supplies
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feedlots are carrying sufficient numbers for the time being and feeding margins remain deep in red ink on unhedged cattle. Secondly, carcass weights are sharply above year-ago levels and Alberta finishing lots are backed up with market-ready supplies.
Feed grain weekly outlook: Growers looking at the skies, prices
Barley prices should decline in later spring as growers sell, analyst says
Reading Time: 2 minutes Despite recent weather bringing much-needed moisture into southern Alberta, dryness remains a concern in the region weeks before the start of seeding.
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
