MarketsFarm — Prices for feed barley and wheat are coming down on the Prairies, said Susanne Leclerc of Market Master Ltd. in Edmonton — and a big part of that trend is the lack of demand for either commodity.
“Buyers are fairly well covered. There seems to be a lack of desire for buyers to cover themselves on barley, having sufficient coverage on the corn,” Leclerc said.
She also noted lack of demand for feed wheat, as corn continued to be imported from the U.S., replacing both grains at numerous feedlots.
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Declines in projected planting intentions for 2026/27 were not as big as the market expected, after the United States Department of Agriculture released its estimates on March 31. The USDA also issued its quarterly grain stocks report with stocks for soybeans bigger than anticipated, while those for corn were smaller and wheat virtually matched the average trade guess.
A shortage last year of barley and wheat saw Prairie prices skyrocket and feedlots turn to U.S. corn. Although there are sufficient supplies of barley and wheat across Western Canada, corn has remained less expensive.
However, Leclerc noted, several elevators in Alberta were still running specials on gradable wheat.
“If you got gradable wheat, definitely check with the elevators,” she said.
One major issue that has continued to plague the feed market has been the severe shortage of trucks and truck drivers.
“It hasn’t gotten any better. The government needs to do something about it because it’s really affecting our industry,” Leclerc said.
— Glen Hallick reports for MarketsFarm from Winnipeg.
