Reading Time: 3 minutes This forecast starts with an area of low pressure over northern Ontario and a resulting push of cool air over the eastern half of the Prairies. Over the western half of the Prairies, a weak ridge of high pressure is moving in. This will bring sunny skies and average or above average temperatures.
Prairie forecast: Mild pattern trying to hold on
Klassen: Canadian feeder markets trades premium to U.S. values
Reading Time: 2 minutes For the week ending October 19, Western Canadian yearling markets traded $3 to $5 on either side of unchanged compared to seven days earlier. Calf prices were $5 to as much as $10 higher. Strength in the deferred live cattle futures along with the weaker Canadian dollar has resulted in positive margins on incoming calves. Therefore, the calf market has developed a floor price.
Prairie forecast: No snow – yet
Forecast issued Oct. 16, covering Oct. 16 to 23, 2024
Reading Time: 4 minutes As we work our way towards winter, we'll eventually have to start talking about snow... but it looks like that type of weather is at least another week away. Instead, the models show unseasonably warm weather continuing across much of the Prairies over this forecast period.
Klassen: Calf market ratchets higher
Reading Time: 2 minutes For the week ending October 12, the Western Canadian prices for yearlings off grass and backgrounding operations were relatively unchanged from seven days earlier. The Lethbridge market for calves was up $8-$10 from week-ago levels while calf markets in the non-major feeding regions were up a solid $4-$6 on average.
Saskatchewan crop report: Harvest nearly complete
Reading Time: < 1 minute Combining in Saskatchewan is virtually complete with the provincial report putting the harvest at 97 per cent finished overall. That's a gain of six points during the week ended Oct. 7, as parts of the province contended with rain delays.
Prairie forecast: Mild temperatures to continue
Forecast issued Oct. 9, covering Oct. 9 to 16, 2024
Reading Time: 3 minutes As this forecast period starts, the Prairies are feeling the effects of an upper ridge as it slowly slides eastwards and breaks down thanks due to low-pressure tracking over the ridge. Here is where things get interesting. Overall, the models have consistently shown an area of low-pressure tracking over the ridge late this week and over the weekend. This low is forecasted to drop southeastwards and deepen dramatically.
Klassen: Feeder markets experience stronger demand
Reading Time: 2 minutes For the week ending October 5, Western Canadian prices for grass yearlings were steady to as much as $10 higher while values for backgrounded yearlings were relatively unchanged. Calf markets were quite variable with preconditioned 650-800 pound calves trading $4-$8 above week-ago levels. Prices for non-weaned bawlers were relatively unchanged.
Barley, Canola, Cereals, Crops, Lentils, News, Oats, Pasture, Peas, Pulses, Soybeans, Spring Wheat, Winter Wheat
Combining in Saskatchewan ahead of five-year average
Reading Time: 2 minutes Harvesting in Saskatchewan is in the home stretch as warm and dry conditions for the week ended Sept. 30 saw a 12-point gain to 91 per cent complete, the provincial agriculture department reported.
Prairie forecast: Widespread frost then turning warmer
Forecast issued Oct. 2, covering Oct. 2 to 9, 2024
Reading Time: 3 minutes A large, deep area of low pressure is spinning over eastern Hudson Bay. Weak high pressure stretches across the northern part of the U.S. and into the southern Prairies. The strong counterclockwise rotation around the Hudson Bay low is pushing plenty of cool air southwards across the Prairies. Most regions have a good chance of frost early in this forecast period.
Klassen: Western Canadian calf markets percolate higher
Reading Time: 2 minutes Strength in the deferred live cattle futures has spilt over into the feeder complex. Alberta and Saskatchewan placements in the lighter weight categories are down from year-ago levels which is resulting in stronger Alberta fed cattle basis levels for next spring. These are the main factors influencing the calf markets in Western Canada.
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
