Government, industry and educational institutes must act now to address the labour challenges confronting the emerging plant-based protein industry in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, according to a new report.
Protein sector faces labour crunch: report
Nearly two thirds of agri-food companies can't hire all the workers they need
Klassen: Canadian feeder market jumps on USDA data
The U.S. cattle herd reached lowest head count since 1950s, trade anticipates heifer retention
For the week ending February 2, Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were up $6/cwt to $12/cwt from seven days earlier. Certain pockets of Western Canada had grass cattle trading $12/cwt to as much as $20/cwt above the previous week.
U.S. livestock: CME cattle futures turn lower on profit-taking
Lean hogs also turn lower after recent rally faced fundamental resistance
Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures ended the day lower on Monday, as market participants sought to take profits after live cattle futures hit a nearly three-month high in the previous session, traders said.
FCC projects profit loss in 2024
Hits expected on grain price, but economist ‘cautiously optimistic’ on interest rates and input costs
Reading Time: 7 minutes A prominent Canadian ag lender is projecting a 4.8 per cent decline in farm cash receipts in 2024, due in part to a softening market. Consequently, its leading economist is urging producers to find any way to save money. “In this environment, I do think that management skills are absolutely critical,” said J.P. Gervais, vice-president […] Read more
Total US cattle herd drops to lowest level since 1951 – USDA
Easing dryness could encourage ranchers to begin rebuilding beef herds
Chicago | Reuters - The total number of U.S. cattle fell to its lowest level since 1951 as of Jan. 1, in the herd's fifth consecutive year of decline, U.S. Department of Agriculture data showed on Wednesday.
Schoepp: Ruminants in the COP28 crosshairs
There’s been little meaningful engagement with agriculture on this issue
Reading Time: 4 minutes The United Nations Climate Conference, COP28, recently held in Rome, was for the first time focused on agriculture. The outcome seems to be a set of seriously flawed directives for farmers. In the 28-year history of the Conference of the Parties, agriculture has always taken a backseat. The 2023 meetings brought food production forward, not […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME cattle soar as cash markets firm
Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures jumped on Thursday, buoyed by rising cash cattle prices and a government inventory report confirming that the total number of U.S. cattle fell to a 73-year low. CME April live cattle futures LCJ24 settled up 2.475 cents at 183.175 cents per pound, nearing Monday’s 2-1/2-month high of […] Read more
Prairie feed market remains under pressure
U.S. corn imports adding to lack of demand for domestic barley
Feed grain markets in Western Canada remain under pressure, with end users well covered and farmers still sitting on large amounts of unpriced grain.
First-of-its-kind cattle methane limiter approved for Canada
Enteric methane emissions from cattle contributes 3.3 per cent of Canada’s total GHG emissions
A feed ingredient designed to reduce methane emissions in beef and dairy cattle has received market authorization in Canada.
Updating cow-calf management benchmarks
Survey closes March 31
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) is asking cow-calf producers to share insight into their on-farm management practices and production methods. The 2023 Canadian Cow-Calf Survey is an online questionnaire that will collect data to help understand trends in production practices and efficiencies over time. Producers’ identities and information will remain anonymous and be held […] Read more
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