Klassen: Feeder cattle futures near historical highs

Feeder cattle futures reached over $117 per hundredweight last week on softer corn values and strengthening fed cattle prices. Western Canadian feeder cattle weighing less than 600 pounds were steady to $2 higher last week; cattle weighing 600 to 800 pounds were $1 to $2 weaker while 8-weight feeders were down $2 on average. Barley […] Read more

Feed barley bids firming up in Western Canada

(Commodity News Service Canada) — Barley bids in Western Canada have strengthened recently and should continue to see some more upside between now and Christmas, as the selling pressure backs away but the seasonal demand picks up. Jim Beusekom of Market Place Commodities at Lethbridge, Alta. said bids were starting to move higher, with prices […] Read more


Ergot A Serious Problem In Feed This Year

Reading Time: 2 minutes An Alberta forage specialist is warning livestock feeders to be on the lookout for ergot in this year’s grain crop because of cool, damp weather. “Airborne ergot spores from previous crops infected the developing heads. This year, there’s a problem with not only rye, but triticale, wheat, barley oats and even some of the grasses; […] Read more

IN BRIEF – for Nov. 22, 2010

Reading Time: < 1 minute Agriguide.ca, an online, bilingual directory of Canadian agricultural associations, was unveiled Nov. 18 by the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) in Ottawa. Agriguide.ca contains information on more than 550 national, provincial and territorial farm-related associations. Each listing includes contact information for and a brief description of not-for-profit and publicly funded farm organizations and commodity […] Read more


Australian Retailer Bans Imported Pork From Sow Stalls

Reading Time: 3 minutes Canada’s pork producers are scrambling to learn more about a major Australian grocery chain’s decision to ban pork from countries that use sow gestation crates. Coles Supermarkets said earlier this month that all its imported pork products, including processed ham and bacon, will have to be from pigs raised without the use of sow stalls. […] Read more

Excess Moisture Sask. Livestock Assistance

Reading Time: < 1 minute The Saskatchewan government has announced a livestock feed and forage program for producers affected by excess moisture. The program will provide transportation assistance to producers who have to haul feed to their livestock or transport livestock to alternative locations. In addition, the SFFP will provide $30 per acre to producers to reseed hay, forage or […] Read more


Maple Leaf Sells Pork Plant

Reading Time: < 1 minute Maple Leaf Foods has sold its Burlington, Ont. pork plant to Fearmans Pork Inc., an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners Inc. The $20-million sale of the plant in Burlington, Ontario, will reduce Maple Leaf’s pork-processing volume to about 4.3 million hogs from seven million hogs in 2006. The plant has potential to increase production levels, […] Read more

Growing And Selling Local Lamb For Local Customers

Reading Time: 3 minutes If Gerrit Van Hierden, a Fort Macleodarea lamb producer, spends a lot of time in his truck, it’s because he sells direct to farmers’ markets and restaurants “Of course I spend time on the farm, but a lot of my time is spent marketing,” he says. “My daughter and son-in-law pretty much manage the farm […] Read more


Province To Test Run Cattle Feeder Financing Projects

Reading Time: 2 minutes The Alberta government will clear a regulatory path for livestock feeder associations to test run pilot projects looking at different ways to produce and market cattle, and to finance the process. Agricul ture Minister Jack Hayden has announced changes to the provincially operated Feeder Associations Loan Guarantee Program to allow a pilot project for a […] Read more

Higher Priced Feed To Trim Livestock Production

Reading Time: < 1 minute U.S. cattle and hog producers will likely reduce herds now that it appears there will be even less corn and soybean meal for feed, analysts said. Chicken producers, who have been rapidly expanding flocks, may slow that process now that higher-priced corn and soybean meal appear to be here to stay, analysts said. “Feed costs […] Read more