Reading Time: 2 minutes Calf markets appeared to trade $2 to $3 above week-ago levels on average. Feedlot margins on current pen close-outs are negative $300 to $350 per head but replacement markets haven’t missed a beat. Finishing feedlots were once again bidding aggressively on backgrounded cattle with fleshier types experiencing limited slippage. Larger pen sized groups were on the higher end of the priced spectrum with buyers avoiding smaller packages.
Klassen: Feeder market holds value despite negative margins
U.S. demand limited with colder temperatures in Midwest
Prairie forecast: More typical mid-winter weather
Issued Jan. 17, covering Jan. 17 to 24
Reading Time: 3 minutes For this forecast period it looks like it'll simply be winter--not bone chilling cold, but not springtime warm. The general pattern that appears to be developing across the prairies is showing warm air trying to push northeastwards out of the western U.S., but with a northwesterly flow across the prairies, it looks like there will be a parade of cold, arctic high-pressure systems dropping southeastwards every few of days. The question is, just how far north will the warm air push, or for far south will the arctic air push?
Western Canada’s dry winter heralds worsening drought for 2024
Oil and gas, hydro, forestry, sports affected alongside agriculture
Reading Time: 3 minutes Canada's abnormally dry winter is worsening drought conditions across the western provinces, where most of the country's oil, gas, forest products and grain are produced.
Feed grain weekly outlook: More U.S. corn deliveries to feedlots
Frigid temperatures unlikely to disrupt grain deliveries, analyst says
Reading Time: 2 minutes The New Year still hasn’t whetted the appetite for corn from the United States to Alberta feedlots.
Prairie forecast: Frigid temperatures moving in
Issued Jan. 10, 2024, covering Jan 10 to 17
Reading Time: 3 minutes Coldest temperatures look to be over the western prairies but there looks to be some relief from the really cold temperatures early next week. With cold arctic high pressure dominating, little in the way of snow is expected during this forecast period.
Klassen: Cattle producers anxious about 2024
No sales the first week of 2024 as markets assess inventory, plan strategy
Reading Time: 2 minutes The holiday break for the cattle market is analogous to an the intermission between periods of hockey game. Feedlot operators assess inventory and to focus on the market structure. They’re planning their purchase strategy for the next couple months.
Prairie spring wheat bids start year on a soft note
The Canadian dollar again weakened relative to the greenback
Reading Time: 2 minutes Spring wheat bids in Western Canada moved lower during the first week of 2024, as losses in the United States futures more than countered the supportive influence of a weaker Canadian dollar.
Feed weekly outlook: Several factors weighing on prices
Warm weather means less feed needed, easier movement says analyst
Reading Time: < 1 minute Feed grain prices across the Canadian Prairies are expected to continue falling back for the next few months due to a number of reasons, according to Evan Peterson of JGL Commodities in Saskatoon, Sask.
Prairie forecast: Winter temperatures moving in
Issued Jan. 03, covering: Jan. 3 – 10
Reading Time: 3 minutes Looking at this forecast period, the best way I can describe it is that we will be seeing a slow slide into more seasonal temperatures. The persistent upper-level ridging that brought warm--and record warm temperatures--to much of the prairies in December has broken down. The weather models are showing a trough of low pressure developing over the west coast over the next seven days.
Klassen: Feeder market quiets at year-end
Feeding margins have moved into negative territory, setting a negative tone for replacements
Reading Time: 2 minutes The last full week of 2023 was characterized by lower volumes and limited buying interest. Feedlot operators don’t want to weigh down schedules of hired hands over the holidays. Many auction barns were closed for the season while some held bred cows and bred heifer sales.
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
