Glacier FarmMedia — Soft demand has feed grain prices levelling off, said Darcy Haley, vice-president of Ag Value Brokers in Lethbridge, Alta.
“They have nudged up a little bit,” he said, citing December barley at C$270 per tonne delivered Lethbridge.
“Right now to trade barley at C$275 is pretty close to impossible for January-February-March,” he added, noting it’s C$285 for April-May-June.
“Most of it is being bought between traders. Feedlots and end users just don’t seem to want to have anything to with it,” Haley continued. “Maybe they will someday.”
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Previously, Haley said demand from feedlots was pushing up feed prices as they brought in more cattle.
Besides lackluster demand, he said farmers have been largely unwilling to part with their grain, especially barley and wheat.
“It’s hard to get a farmer to sell barley and wheat at a price the end user wants to pay,” Haley commented, suggesting trade is likely going to remain slow until the New Year.
He complimented the grain companies for the export business they have achieved so far in 2025/26.
The Canadian Grain Commission reported cumulative wheat exports of 7.83 million tonnes as of Nov. 30, up more than 13 per cent from a year ago. Barley exports reached 1.16 million tonnes for an increase of nearly 34 per cent. Haley said such needs to continue in light of the larger-than-expected Prairie harvest.
Statistics Canada issued its latest production report on Dec. 4, pegging 2025/25 barley production at 9.73 million tonnes, compared to 8.14 million the previous year. The Canadian all wheat crop of 39.95 million tonnes set a new production record.
