In central Alberta, calf numbers were limited with only small groups or single stragglers available.  Photo: File

Klassen: Feeder cattle trend higher, favourable beef outlook

Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, Western Canadian yearlings traded $8 to as much as $12 higher; mid-weight feeders in the range of 700-800 pounds were also $8-10 higher. Calves under 700 pounds were unchanged to $6 higher.  The feeder market took a fortuitous bounce last week. Major feedlots were extremely aggressive on yearlings while supplies were […] Read more


Photo: File

Manitoba Crop Report: Plantings advance, crops threatened by weeds, insects

Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm – Seeding continues to advance in Manitoba, but recent rains have also hindered progress and emergent crops are being threatened by weeds and insects. Plantings in the province are 91 per cent complete as of June 21, four points higher than the previous week according to Manitoba’s weekly crop report. Typically, the third week […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Barley price forecasts enhance feeder cattle demand

Recent rains nearly guarantee at least average yields

Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were relatively unchanged. Heifer and steer calves were quoted steady to $3 lower on average but the market was harder to define due to limited numbers. Small packages of calves of various quality resulted in the wide-ranging price structure. Buying interest for grassers appears to have subsided. […] Read more


(Thinkstock photo)

Prairie cash wheat: Bids firm as loonie falls

Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Spring wheat bids in Western Canada moved higher during the week ended Thursday, as heavy losses in the Canadian dollar more than countered the bearish influence of weakening U.S. futures. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS, 13.5 per cent protein) wheat prices were up by $4.50-$7.40 per tonne during the week ended Thursday, […] Read more




(Thinkstock photo)

Prairie cash wheat: Spring wheat up, durum pulls back

Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Wheat prices on the Canadian Prairies were mixed during the week ended Thursday. Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) and Canada Prairie Spring Red (CPSR) wheats incurred moderate gains, as Canada Western Amber Durum (CWAD) fell back. Good upticks in the U.S. wheat complex fueled price increases in Western Canada, along with a weaker […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

Drought worsens in Alberta, but eastern Prairies wet

Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Highly varied precipitation across the Canadian Prairies in May saw drought conditions worsen in southern Alberta while parts of Manitoba and Saskatchewan were becoming too wet, according to the latest federal Drought Monitor report. The report, released by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) for the period ended May 31, showed that overall, 19 […] Read more