Reading Time: 4 minutes Beef prices are sky high, but that money is not trickling down into the hands of cattle producers. “I’ve been getting lots of calls from producers on why there’s such a difference on the price at the packer level and at the retail level,” said Melanie Wowk, chair of Alberta Beef Producers. “Our prices at […] Read more
Cattle producers have the beef but aren’t getting the bucks
Producers are used to the cattle cycle but this one is extreme — and extremely painful
Klassen: Higher fed cattle prices pull up feeder market
Compared to last week, replacement cattle over 800 lbs. traded $10-$15 higher; some quality packages were up $20 from week-ago levels. Feeder cattle weighing 600-800 lbs. traded $4-$8 higher; calves under 600 lbs. were up $6-$10 on average, with some packages in Alberta up as much as $15 from last week. Strength in the fed […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market stabilizes
Cow-calf producers selling sooner than normal
Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle prices traded $2-$3 on either side of unchanged. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis at $275 delivered; the Alberta fed market has rallied $10-$12 over the past couple weeks. Secondly, U.S. feeder cattle prices have also rallied US$10-US$12 during the same time frame […] Read more
Strike averted at Cargill’s High River beef plant
Deal that hikes wages by 21 per cent and offers large bonuses receives majority backing
Workers at Cargill’s beef packing plant in southern Alberta have voted in favour of a contract that will hike wages by 21 per cent and provide improved health benefits. “The contract is the best of its kind and presented unprecedented gains in this time of economic and political uncertainty,” United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) […] Read more
Cargill beef plant workers to vote on new negotiated offer
High River workers otherwise headed for strike or lockout Monday
Workers at Cargill’s major beef slaughter and packing plant in Alberta will vote this week on a new offer which it’s hoped will avert a strike or lockout, both due to start Monday. The new offer follows a “marathon” of negotiations Tuesday between Cargill representatives and the bargaining committee for United Food and Commercial Workers […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market making seasonal lows
Surge of Canadian cattle exports expected
Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder markets were down $2-$4 on average. Prices for feeder cattle in the eastern Prairie regions were relatively unchanged from seven days earlier; however, values in Alberta and western Saskatchewan were down $4 to as much as $8 in some cases. This variation made the market hard to define. […] Read more
Cargill serves lockout notice on High River workers
Company 'willing to keep meeting' after offer rejected
Updated — Whether in a strike or a lockout, workers at one of Canada’s biggest beef slaughter plants took another step toward the picket line this week by voting to reject the company’s latest contract offer. A vote conducted Tuesday and Wednesday by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 401 went to the […] Read more
Beef sector launches pair of new consumer outreach efforts
Economic contribution of beef sector highlighted and beef advocacy training revamped
Reading Time: < 1 minute Highlighting how the cattle sector beefs up the economy and training those in the sector to talk persuasively about key issues are the latest efforts to win the hearts and minds of consumers. A new infographic from the Beef Cattle Research Council aims to show at a glance that the cattle sector is a big […] Read more
Feeding cattle this winter is all about striking the right balance
Determine your priorities, feed test and then take a look at alternate feed sources
Reading Time: 4 minutes Whether feeding in a normal year or through a drought, cattle producers need to look at nutrition from a “40,000-foot vantage point” to make the most of their feed. “No matter what we’re doing, we’re always striving to get that perfect mix and perfect balance so that everything is used to its optimum,” Barry Yaremcio […] Read more
Klassen: Fed cattle prices down on the week
Compared to last week, Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were down $4 to $6 on average. Sub quality feeders traded as much as $8 below week ago levels. The market was hard to define with wide price ranges on similar weight feeders within a short distance. Southern Alberta is contending with adverse pen conditions as […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
