Workers on the verge of striking at Cargill’s major beef cattle slaughter plant at High River, Alta. will vote this week on a new contract offer from the company. However, the union bargaining committee for the workers, represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 401, is recommending employees vote against the proposal. […] Read more
High River beef plant workers to vote on Cargill offer
UFCW bargaining committee is recommending nay
Alberta Beef Producers sets dates for producer meetings
The first meeting of six meetings is scheduled for Jan. 24
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Beef Producers has set tentative dates for its upcoming producer meetings. The Central meeting is slated for Jan. 24 in Stony Plain; Northwest on Jan. 26 in Fairview; Northeast on Jan. 27 in Vermilion; Southeast on Feb. 8 in Brooks; and Southwest on Feb. 9 in High River. There will also be a virtual […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market continues downward slide
Prairies' snowstorm leads to risk discount
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were steady to $2 lower; calves traded $2-$4 below week-ago levels. Saskatchewan and Manitoba experienced their first major snowstorm of the season last week. The market tends to incorporate a risk discount for adverse weather as buyers factor in higher death loss. Also, major feedlot operators believe […] Read more
Brazil plays down BSE risk in suspect cases in people
Sao Paulo/Rio de Janeiro | Reuters — Brazil’s agriculture ministry said that two cases reported on Thursday of a neurodegenerative disorder in patients in Rio de Janeiro state were not related to beef consumption, tamping down fears of possible BSE causing human illness. Federal biomedical institute Fiocruz, which is investigating the possibility of bovine spongiform […] Read more
Cargill beef plant workers serve strike notice
Without a deal, High River workers will walk Dec. 6
Unionized workers at Cargill’s cattle slaughter and processing plant at High River, Alta. will start strike action next month unless a deal can be reached with the company, their union said Wednesday. A strike would begin at High River no sooner than Dec. 6 at 12:01 a.m. if a new collective bargaining agreement isn’t reached […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market on soft slope
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were steady to $2 lower on average while calves traded steady to as much as $4 lower in certain regions; calves under 550 pounds were quoted $3-$6 below week-ago levels. Barley and wheat prices continue to percolate higher, causing a defensive sentiment amongst buyers. Southern Alberta and […] Read more
Crunching the numbers on backgrounding cattle
Should you hold animals or sell some to free up feed for the cow herd?
Reading Time: 2 minutes Drought conditions across the country this year remind us of the importance of a drought-management plan. Diversifying a cow-calf operation with a backgrounding enterprise could be part of a drought-mitigation strategy, as backgrounded cattle can be sold or moved to a feedlot to free up feed supplies or pasture for the cow herd. While backgrounding […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Live cattle end higher, lean hogs eases
Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures finished higher on Friday and gained about 1 percent for the week, helped by solid export demand, traders said. Demand from China has been particularly strong, fueled by the appetites of a growing Chinese middle class and diplomatic tensions with rival supplier Australia. The U.S. […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Lean hogs climb on strong exports
Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures climbed to their highest in nearly two weeks on Thursday, supported by strong weekly export sales and tighter supplies of market-ready hogs, analysts said. “Hog numbers are still running below last year. If that continues to tighten up, I think that boosts the back months […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Live cattle firms on stronger cash, wholesale market
Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures firmed on Wednesday, underpinned by stronger cash trade as packers pull more cattle forward, while wholesale beef prices added support, analysts said. “It does seem like the packers have picked up the production for cattle lately,” said Doug Houghton, technical analyst at Brock Capital Management. […] Read more
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