During the week ending April 5, the feeder market felt sluggish early in the week. Prices were a bit softer on Monday and by Wednesday morning, quoted values were $10 to as much $20 below week ago levels. After making weekly lows Wednesday, prices fully recovered to the previous week’s levels.
Klassen: Feeder market experiences volatility during U.S. tariff week
Prairie forecast: Two lows and a high
Forecast issued April 2, covering April 2 to 9, 2025
This forecast period looks to be be defined by two areas of low pressure, one spinning off the west coast and the other spinning over eastern Canada. Exactly how these two lows behave a move will have a big impact on temperatures across the central and eastern Prairies.
Klassen: Healthy feedlot margins supports feeder complex
For the week ending March 29, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $5/cwt lower to $5/cwt higher compared to seven days earlier. The price structure was largely determined by the crowd's mindset regarding potential U.S. tariffs.
Alberta-based Sunterra companies in financial, legal trouble
The home-grown company is renowned for its diversified model and value-added processing
Alberta-based Sunterra Farms has filed notice for protection under federal bankruptcy and insolvency laws to restructure itself financially while three of its U.S. subsidiaries face mounting legal and financial woes.
Booming barley tea market notices new Alberta variety
Major Japanese company looks at AB Standswell as a potential ingredient for the region’s booming barley tea market
Reading Time: 3 minutes Barley tea is a popular staple in many Asian nations and presents an opportunity for Canadian growers to consider a newer Alberta-made barley variety called AB Standswell.
Prairie forecast: Spring storm could bring significant snow
Forecast issued March 26, covering March 26 to April 2, 2025
We start this forecast period with a strong area of low pressure pushing in off the southern coast of B.C. This low will bring very mild temperatures to southern Alberta on Wednesday and into Thursday. It will then help to develop an area of low pressure over south-central regions early Thursday morning.
Klassen: Feeder cattle follow live cattle futures higher
For the week ending March 22, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded steady to $5 higher on average. Higher quality strings under 600 pounds traded $5 to as much as $10 higher in some cases but the lighter weight categories were quite variable across the Prairies.
Prairie forecast: Spring battle between warm and cold continues
Forecast issued March 19, covering March 19 to 26, 2025
For this forecast period the weather models are showing a fairly quiet weather pattern will only a couple of chances of light snow as weak systems track along the boundary between the cold Arctic air to our north and milder air to the south. This is the big question mark for this forecast period: just where will this boundary be?
Feed grains weekly: Looming tariffs scaring away demand
Feed market is ‘wait and see’ says broker
Ongoing tariff uncertainty continues to curtail demand in the feed sector across the Canadian Prairies, said broker Evan Peterson of JGL Commodities in Saskatoon.
Prairie forecast: Dreaded Colorado low on the radar
Forecast issued March 12, covering March 12 to 19, 2025
As I mentioned in last weeks weather article, March and April can see some of the biggest snowstorms of the year. While I don't think this one will be one for the record books, there's the potential for some wintery weather across the Prairies between now and the end of the weekend.
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
