United States President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that certain imports from Mexico which fall under the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Trade Agreement will see tariffs delayed until April 2. Canada was also included in the official amendment after the markets closed.

The April live cattle contract jumped four U.S. cents per pound to end Friday at 200.275, surpassing the 200-cent mark for the first time since Feb. 6. The April feeder cattle contract gained 3.725 cents/lb. at 278.150 after reaching its highest level since Jan. 29.

The USDA reported rising wholesale boxed beef prices on Friday afternoon, with choice boxes up $1.78 at $314.90 per hundredweight and select boxes up $2.29 at $305.80.

April lean hogs were up 0.700 of a cent/lb. at 87.350, ending the week higher.

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United States President Donald Trump announced that certain imports from Mexico which fall under the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Trade Agreement will see tariffs delayed until April 2. Canada was also included in the official amendment after the markets closed.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture showed beef export sales at 13,393 tonnes for the week ended Feb. 27, a three-week low. Census data showed January beef exports totaled 230.19 million pounds, down 11.1 per cent from December and the lowest December total since 2017.

The April live cattle contract dropped 0.275 of a U.S. cent per pound to end Thursday at 196.275. The April feeder cattle contract lost 1.650 cents/lb. at 274.425.

The USDA reported mixed wholesale boxed beef prices on Thursday afternoon, with choice boxes down 42 cents at $313.12 per hundredweight and select boxes up 98 cents at $303.51.

In total, 42,449 tonnes of pork were sold for export during the week ended Feb. 27, the USDA added. The figure was 16.6 per cent above the same week last year and the second largest total this marketing year. Census data reported 576.82 million lbs. of pork shipped in January, down 1.9 per cent from last year and down 10.7 per cent from December.

April lean hogs jumped 1.950 cents/lb. at 86.650 after reaching its highest price in eight days at 87.550.

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Canada and China have already enacted retaliatory tariffs while Mexico will announce its plans by March 9.

The April live cattle contract rose 1.900 U.S. cents per pound to end Wednesday at 196.550. The day’s high of 197.225 was unseen since Feb. 13.

The April feeder cattle contract gained 3.575 cents/lb. at 276.075, its biggest one-day gain since Feb. 24.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported a decline in wholesale boxed beef prices on Wednesday afternoon, with choice boxes down $1.13 at $313.54 per hundredweight and select boxes losing $1.49 at $302.53.

After hitting a six-month low on Tuesday, April lean hogs moved upward by 2.350 cents/lb. at 84.700.

The USDA also reported that the U.S. cattle herd totaled 86.7 million head on Jan. 1, down from 87.2 million one year earlier. The Canadian herd was at 10.9 million, down from 11 million.

There were 75.8 million hogs and pigs in the U.S. as of Dec. 1, 2024, up from 75.4 million on Dec. 1, 2023. In Canada, there were 13.9 million hogs and pigs as of Jan. 1, down from 14 million.

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In retaliation, Canada announced it will immediately impose tariffs on C$30 billion worth of American imports, while China placed 10 per cent tariffs on U.S. beef and pork.

The April live cattle contract saw its biggest one-day gain since Jan. 28, gaining 2.400 U.S. cents per pound to end Tuesday at 194.650. However, earlier in the day, the contract fell below 190 cents/lb. for the first time since Dec. 26.

The April feeder cattle contract saw its lowest level since Feb. 21 at 267.025 cents/lb., but later erased its Tuesday losses to gain 0.450 cents at 272.500.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported rising wholesale boxed beef prices on Tuesday afternoon, with choice boxes up 92 cents at $314.85 per hundredweight and select boxes up $1.61 at $304.02.

April lean hogs lost 1.350 cents/lb. at 82.350, but not before falling to its lowest point since Sept. 17 at 80.725.

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The April live cattle contract dropped 0.400 U.S. cents per pound to end Monday at 192.250, but not before falling to its lowest level since Dec. 26 at 190.100 cents/lb.

The April feeder cattle contract lost 0.950 cents/lb. to close at 272.050. Its low for the day was 269.350, a level the contract hadn’t descended to since Feb. 24.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported stronger wholesale boxed beef prices on Monday afternoon, with choice boxes up $2.10 at $313.93 per hundredweight and select boxes up 36 cents at $302.41.

April lean hogs saw a minimal gain of 0.025 cents/lb. at 83.700 after dropping to 82.725 earlier in the day, its lowest point since Oct. 1.

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More than one million acres were either damaged or destroyed by the storms bringing hail and strong winds, leading to more than 2,800 claims of crop damage, according to the Canadian Crop Hail Association (CCHA).

“This was the biggest week for claims in August in the last decade,” said Rodney Schoettler of Saskatchewan Municipal Hail Insurance.

• RELATED: Late-season lodging flattens Manitoba cereals

Along with Saskatchewan Municipal Hail Insurance, claims were also filed through Palliser Insurance, Agriculture Financial Services Corporation, and Co-operative Hail Insurance Company.

“This was one of our busiest weeks, with multiple storms producing hail of all sizes, accompanied by big winds,” Scott McQueen of Palliser Insurance said.

CCHA members asked clients to wait patiently as companies processed claims and sent adjusters out to survey damage.

In Alberta, at least 23 communities were affected by the storms with damage to numerous crops: alfalfa, barley, dry beans, canola, chickpeas, corn, faba beans, lentils, mustard, oats, peas, timothy, triticale and wheat.

At least 24 communities in Saskatchewan saw damage to fields in surrounding areas, affecting all crops.

In Manitoba, 10 communities were affected, all in the western part of the province, with wheat, canola, corn, soybeans and peas affected.

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported the country’s spring wheat harvest to be 70 per cent complete as of the start of September, matching the five-year average and being two points ahead of last year. By comparison, Manitoba’s spring wheat crop was 41 per cent complete, while Saskatchewan’s was only at 28 per cent. In Alberta, 94 per cent of the province’s winter wheat crop and 17 per cent of its spring wheat crop were harvested as of Aug. 27. Alberta’s next provincial crop report will be released on Sept. 6.

Ukraine announced on Wednesday it will cap wheat exports at 16.2 million tonnes for 2024-25. In the first two months of the marketing year, Ukraine shipped 3.59 million tonnes of wheat, more than triple from the 1.03 million tonnes shipped last year. In 2023-24, Ukraine exported 18.3 million tonnes of wheat.

Meanwhile, the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARES) raised its wheat production forecast for 2024-25 by 2.7 million tonnes at 31.8 million due to timely rains in wheat-growing areas. The figure would be 20 per cent above the 10-year average.

Canadian Western Red Spring (CWRS) gained C$14.60 to C$18.20 per tonne, according to price quotes from a cross-section of delivery points compiled by PDQ (Price and Data Quotes). Average prices were between C$254.30/tonne in southeast Saskatchewan to C$277.20 in southern Alberta.

Quoted basis levels ranged from between C$24.40 to C$47.30/tonne above the futures when using the grain company methodology of quoting the basis as the difference between the U.S. dollar denominated futures and the Canadian dollar cash bids.

Accounting for exchange rates and adjusting Canadian prices to U.S. dollars (C$1=US$0.7400), CWRS bids were from US$188.20 to US$205.10/tonne. Currency adjusted basis levels ranged from US$24.80 to US$41.80 below the futures. If the futures were converted to Canadian dollars, basis levels would be C$18.40 to C$30.90 below the futures.

Meanwhile, Canadian Prairie Red Spring (CPRS) prices added C$14.30 to C$26.60 per tonne. The lowest average bid for CPRS was C$226.00 in southeast Saskatchewan, while the highest average bid was C$250.00 in southern Alberta.

The average prices for Canada Western Amber Durum (CWAD) were down C$0.60 to up C$2.90 per tonne with bids between C$288.30 in northwest Saskatchewan to C$301 in western Manitoba.

The December spring wheat contract in Minneapolis, which most CWRS contracts are based off of, was quoted at US$6.2575 per bushel on Sept. 5 and 35.25 U.S. cents higher than the previous week.

The Kansas City hard red winter wheat futures, which are now traded in Chicago, are more closely linked to CPSR in Canada. The December contract was quoted at US$5.8875/bu., up 28.25 U.S. cents.

The December Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) wheat contract gained 26.00 U.S. cents from the previous week at US$5.7475/bu.

The Canadian dollar declined 0.22 of a U.S. cent to close at 74.00 cents U.S. by Sept. 5.

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He has recently seen light test-weight barley and wheat coming from various places in Western Canada being shipped to feedlots. Beusekom added the feed grains were coming from “almost everywhere in the Palliser Triangle”, the area consisting of southeastern Alberta, southern Saskatchewan and southwestern Manitoba.

“There’s some barley crop that is less than 48 pounds per bushel. The wheat is more variable. We’ve just seen some in eastern Alberta that is light and some durum on the light side in southern Alberta,” he said. “Because of downgrading due to bushel weights, there will be more (grain) entering feed markets. A lot of variance in quality, that’s for sure.”

• RELATED: Feeder cattle market stabilizes

While barley and wheat are still preferred by most feedlots, some are going back to buying corn from the United States due to the cereals’ test-weight situation and lower corn prices.

“The prices are very close and they want the consistent quality of that corn,” Beusekom said. “The grain that is here is making its way into the feedlots. It will trade at discount prices and if it’s good, there will be no issues.”

Feed grain prices in Lethbridge have rallied C$10 to C$15 per tonne at approximately C$260 since their harvest lows two weeks earlier, according to Beusekom. He said a lack of harvest pressure and rising corn and wheat prices have contributed to the rally.

Feed grain prices may continue to rise going into October while staying rangebound, according to Beusekom.

“Usually the market will peak out in mid- to the end of October and finds the trading range for the remainder of the winter months,” he said. “It’s not a change in trends. I don’t see us going straight from a down trend into an up trend, but rather we go into sideways trading. It may be a C$25 per tonne range from the low to the high.”

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Combining for winter wheat and fall rye was near complete at 97 per cent with a few fields in the northwest and Interlake regions yet to come off the ground. The field pea harvest was not far behind at 81 per cent complete. Barley was at 49 per cent, while oats were at 47 per cent, spring wheat at 41 per cent and canola at 13 per cent.

Spring wheat quality was the best in the central and northwest regions at 80 per cent good to excellent, followed by the eastern and Interlake regions at 70 per cent and the southwest region at 65 per cent. Most spring wheat yields were estimated at 60 to 90 bushels per acre. However, yields in the Interlake region ranged from 25 to 70 bu./ac. However, bleaching and fusarium head blight have resulted in downgrades. Oat yield estimates ranged from 80 to 110 bu./ac., while barley yielded between 90 to 115 bu./ac. Corn was in the R3 (milk) to R5 (dent) stages.

• RELATED: August storms yield hail claims on Prairie crops

While the canola harvest has started in the central and eastern regions, swathing and pre-harvest applications are ongoing throughout most of the province. Sunflowers ranged from the R5 (flowering) to R7 stages. Most flax fields were in the R11 (brown capsule) and R12 (seed ripe) stages.

Field peas ranged from 30 to 65 bu./ac., while soybeans were in the R5 and R6 stages in all regions.

Warmer temperatures and increased soil moisture led to improved pasture and forage growth, which were better than last year. Forage yields were above normal with most producers completing second cut as well as spring cereal silage. Annuals for cattle feed were yielding at average to good levels. Dairy producers in the eastern region were making their third cut with yields at average or better. Beef cattle producers were making their second cut of tame hay fields. Corn silage harvest has not yet started, but corn was fully dented.

• RELATED: Alberta’s harvest ahead of average pace

Dugouts were at 65 to 75 per cent capacity while water supplies were adequate in most areas. Cattle producers were trying to control fly numbers while on the lookout for foot rot and pink eye.

Winkler and Jordan in the central region received the most precipitation during the week ended Sept. 2 at 24.6 millimetres with Saint Labre in the eastern region close behind at 24.1 mm. Waskada in the southwest region received no precipitation.

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The agency forecasted 1.333 million tonnes of chickpea production over a seeded area of 1.900 million acres for the 2024-25 crop year, 70 per cent above the 10-year average. This would be the largest area sown for chickpeas since 2017-18 and the largest crop since 2016-17. In the previous year, 491,000 tonnes were produced from a seeded area of 1.011 million acres. The report said there were expected high yields and high margins in both New South Wales and Queensland this season.

Lentil production in Australia is also expected to increase this year at 1.685 million tonnes over an area of 2.291 million acres. Despite lower yields compared to the previous year, the projected lentil crop would be more than double the 10-year average. In 2023-24, 1.568 million tonnes of lentils were grown on 1.952 million acres.

• RELATED: StatCan field crops report numbers fairly acceptable says analyst

Australia’s lupin crop would total 644,000 tonnes in 2024-25 from a seeded area of 1.124 million acres, compared to 566,000 tonnes on 1.090 million acres in 2023-24. For faba beans, 511,000 tonnes would be produced on 640,003 acres, less than the 554,000 tonnes on 652,358 acres in 2023-24. Field pea production was projected at 229,000 tonnes on 462,087 acres for 2024-25, similar to 228,000 tonnes on 474,442 acres in the previous year.

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