Reading Time: 3 minutes To start this forecast period, we have a strong area of Arctic high pressure dropping southeastwards behind the area of low pressure that hit the eastern Prairies earlier in the week. This high will bring a quick shot of cold weather to Saskatchewan and Manitoba from Wednesday to Friday.
Prairie forecast: Cold start, but then turning mild
Forecast issued Dec. 18, covering Dec. 18 to 25, 2024
Klassen: Feeder market consolidates at higher levels
Reading Time: 2 minutes The market continues to digest the U.S. border closure to Mexican feeder cattle, which is drawing more U.S. demand towards Western Canada. Auction market volumes are declining at this time of year. The quality of cattle was sub-par in some regions which caused prices to be quite variable.
Prairie forecast: Cold start for the east, overall warm, dry expected
Forecast issued Dec. 11, 2024, covering Dec. 11 – Dec. 18, 2024
Reading Time: 4 minutes To start this forecast period, the strong area of low pressure that tracked through the eastern Prairies is now over Hudson Bay. The rotation around this low is opening the door for a strong, very cold Arctic high to build southwards into the eastern Prairies. This looks to bring some of the coldest temperatures so far this winter to eastern Saskatchewan and western Manitoba. The good news is that it doesn't look like the cold air will stick around long.
Klassen: Feeder market continues to surge higher
Reading Time: 2 minutes For the week ending December 7, Western Canadian feeder cattle weighing 700 pounds plus traded $10 to $20 higher compared to seven days earlier. Calves under 700 pounds were up $8 to $10 on average. The markets in Manitoba and Eastern Saskatchewan were premium to Alberta in the heavier categories due to stronger U.S. and Ontario buying interest.
Prairie forecast: Melting in the west, milder in the east
Forecast issued Dec. 4, covering Dec. 4 to 11, 2024
Reading Time: 3 minutes Things are looking not too bad for those who want to see snow or deep freeze temperatures. As we start this forecast period, a strong area of Arctic high pressure is dropping southeastwards over the eastern Prairies behind the strong area of low pressure that zipped through on Tuesday. Over the western Prairies, the weather models show a strong ridge of high pressure building over B.C. which is expected to transition eastwards.
Klassen: Canadian feeder market jumps on trade disruptions
Reading Time: 2 minutes For the week ending November 29, feeder cattle market reports from Manitoba had prices up $20-$40/cwt from week-ago levels. Prices in Saskatchewan and Alberta were up $10 to $20 on average. The market was hard to define this past week with a wide range prices across Western Canada for similar quality and weight cattle.
Prairie forecast: Short cold snap, then warmer
Forecast issued Nov. 27, covering Nov. 27 to Dec. 4, 2024
Reading Time: 4 minutes For this forecast period, it looks like some of the coldest air of the season is on its way to Saskatchewan while most of Alberta and Manitoba appear to miss the really cold stuff. The weather models are not showing any strong storm systems impacting the region but there a few weak systems that may bring a light shot of snow here and there.
Klassen: Upward momentum continues for feeder cattle prices
Reading Time: 2 minutes For the week ending November 23, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $3 to $6 higher with some quality heifer packages up as much as $10 compared to seven days earlier.
Prairie forecast: Winter settles in
Forecast issued Nov. 20, covering Nov. 20 to 27, 2024
Reading Time: 3 minutes You might be happy to know (or maybe not) that for this forecast period we should see a quieter but colder weather pattern across the Prairies. Arctic high pressure will be pulled southwards behind the eastern Prairie low and brings the first really taste of winter.
Klassen: Feeder market climbs another step
Reading Time: 2 minutes For the week ending November 16, Western Canadian calves over 650 pounds were up $3-$6/cwt compared to seven days earlier. Calves under 650 pounds traded $4/cwt to as much as $10/cwt higher.
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
