Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle prices traded $2-$3 on either side of unchanged. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis at $275 delivered; the Alberta fed market has rallied $10-$12 over the past couple weeks. Secondly, U.S. feeder cattle prices have also rallied US$10-US$12 during the same time frame […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market stabilizes
Cow-calf producers selling sooner than normal
Canola declines, durum drops in new StatsCan estimates
Soybean, oats estimates raised
MarketsFarm — There were very few surprises in Statistics Canada’s latest principal field crop production estimates released Friday — the first in 2021-22 to use a survey of producers. Nevertheless, they quantified just how severe last summer’s drought was in Western Canada. Canola production for the 2021-22 marketing year was estimated to be 12.595 million […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Prices strong, beginning to stabilize
MarketsFarm — Feed grain bids in Western Canada have shown some strength over the past month, but were stabilizing in early December as corn imports pick up from the U.S. Erin Harakal, trade manager at Agfinity Inc. at Stony Plain, Alta., said prices have been strong over the past month but steady over the past […] Read more
Late enrolment in AgriStability not much help, says Alberta Wheat
An uncertain AgriStability payout a year from now won’t help grain farmers facing cash flow issues
Reading Time: 3 minutes Allowing for late participation in AgriStability is unlikely to help Alberta producers facing a cash flow crunch. “We’re going to be going into a period of significant cash flow shortages for farmers — maybe not all, but many,” said Tom Steve, general manager of Alberta Wheat and Barley. “Late enrolment would be fine, but is […] Read more
Smaller crops likely in StatsCan survey-based report
MarketsFarm — Mindful of the summer drought conditions that seriously cut into crop production across the Prairies, average trade estimates call for downward revisions to Statistics Canada’s already-small forecasts for most crops when the it releases its first survey-based estimates of the marketing year on Friday. While prior reports, in September and August, were compiled […] Read more
Second round of emergency drought aid program opens in January
Applications only being taken until Jan. 31, producers who didn’t get first payment are eligible
Reading Time: 2 minutes Applications for Phase 2 of the emergency drought relief program for livestock producers will be out in early January — but applicants will need to get them in quickly. Producers hit by drought were eligible for a payment of $94 per breeding cow in the first round. In the second phase, they can apply for […] Read more
Vote nears on long-discussed merger of cereal groups
Feedback has been positive but how checkoff dollars would be spent after a union is an issue
Reading Time: 3 minutes A proposed merger between Alberta Wheat and Alberta Barley isn’t a done deal yet — but the process is gathering steam with producer voting just weeks away. “We’ve had pretty resounding positive feedback to continue moving forward with this process, but we’re still looking for feedback from producers,” said Todd Hames, chair of Alberta Wheat. […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Prairie grains remain firm
Transport issues slow U.S. corn flow
MarketsFarm — Feed grain prices in Western Canada remain strong in late November, although looming corn imports from the U.S. should keep a lid on the upside. Feed barley in Alberta is currently topping out at $9.78 per bushel, with feed wheat above $12 in some cases, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire. Those prices remain […] Read more
Feeding cattle this winter is all about striking the right balance
Determine your priorities, feed test and then take a look at alternate feed sources
Reading Time: 4 minutes Whether feeding in a normal year or through a drought, cattle producers need to look at nutrition from a “40,000-foot vantage point” to make the most of their feed. “No matter what we’re doing, we’re always striving to get that perfect mix and perfect balance so that everything is used to its optimum,” Barry Yaremcio […] Read more
AAFC lowers canola export forecast
Domestic canola usage raised; other crops largely unchanged
MarketsFarm — Canadian canola exports during the 2021-22 marketing year are forecast to be smaller than earlier projections, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) reported late Friday. Domestic usage, however, was raised in the report, keeping ending stocks of the crop steady with the October forecast. Total Canadian canola exports in 2021-22 are now forecast at […] Read more