Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle over 800 lbs. traded $8-$10 higher while lighter weight categories were up $4 to as much as $12 in some cases. Feeder cattle under 800 lbs. were very well bid across the Prairies; feeder cattle under 700 lbs. are now trading at prices similar to late February, […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market jumps on renewed optimism
Weekly slaughter pace improving
China hits Australia with barley tariff
Duty to last for five years; China may turn to Canada, other exporters
Beijing/Sydney | Reuters — China added to tensions with Australia on Monday by announcing anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties totalling 80.5 per cent on Australian barley imports from Tuesday (May 19), which is expected to all but halt a billion-dollar trade between them. China’s ministry of commerce said it had confirmed dumping by Australia and significant […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Barley, wheat holding fairly well
MarketsFarm — Feed prices for wheat and barley have softened over the last month, said Erin Harakal, senior trader for Agfinity at Stony Plain, Alta. “Right now for wheat, we have seen it drop off in the last little bit,” she said, noting barley prices have slipped as well. Harakal pointed to the overwintered barley […] Read more
Australia requests China trade talks over beef, barley
Sydney | Reuters — Australia’s trade minister is seeking urgent talks with his Chinese counterpart after key agriculture exports were hit with suspensions and tariff threats, but said Australia will continue to push for an inquiry into the COVID-19 outbreak. Trade minister Simon Birmingham requested a telephone call with Chinese commerce minister Zhong Shan after […] Read more
Stand establishment: If it’s bad news, it’s better to know early on
Measuring emergence let’s you know what’s not working and helps to deal with issues this year
Reading Time: 4 minutes Scouting for disease, insects and weeds pays — and so does assessing plant stand establishment, says a Canola Council of Canada agronomist. Getting a handle on emergence (and therefore seed mortality) can reveal which management practices aren’t working, said Autumn Barnes. “If producers go out and get these numbers they can see, just as a […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Overwintered barley beats expectations
MarketsFarm — Last fall’s remaining barley crops coming off the field this spring were at risk of causing a supply glut in feed grain markets. Luckily, however, those overwintered barley crops are in better-than-expected condition, and not all of them are going into the feed market. “We thought there would be a lot more coming […] Read more
Adjustments likely ahead for StatsCan’s early acreage estimates
Projections still in line with grain trade's expectations
MarketsFarm — The results of the first acreage estimates for 2020 from Statistics Canada come with an asterisk, as the COVID-19 pandemic halted data collection early. Canada’s actual seeded area is expected to see some shifts from the projections released Thursday. “As a result of the timing of the COVID-19 pandemic, these estimates were produced […] Read more
Trade estimates vary ahead of StatsCan’s acreage report
MarketsFarm — Opinions are wide-ranging on what Canadian farmers plan to plant in 2020, ahead of Statistics Canada’s first round of acreage estimates, due out Thursday. Prior to lockdown measures put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, StatsCan was scheduled to release its first principal field crops area report for 2020 on April 24. […] Read more
Klassen: Yearlings trade lower, calves ratchet higher
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were $4-$6 lower; mid-weight feeder cattle traded $2 higher to $4 lower. Lighter calves and grassers were quite variable. In Alberta, these cattle ranged from unchanged to as much as $8 higher on average while in the eastern Prairie regions, calves traded $4 lower to $4 higher. […] Read more
Pandemic threatens federal field research this year
But crop commissions urge AgCanada to follow example of universities, private researchers
Reading Time: 2 minutes COVID-19 threatens to sideline Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s field, greenhouse and lab research this year, but Prairie wheat and barley commissions that help to fund it want as many projects as possible to go ahead. In a statement issued April 24, AgCanada seemed to all but rule out field work this spring. “In response to […] Read more