The holiday break for the cattle market is analogous to an the intermission between periods of hockey game. Feedlot operators assess inventory and to focus on the market structure. They’re planning their purchase strategy for the next couple months.

Klassen: Cattle producers anxious about 2024
No sales the first week of 2024 as markets assess inventory, plan strategy

Prairie spring wheat bids start year on a soft note
The Canadian dollar again weakened relative to the greenback
Spring wheat bids in Western Canada moved lower during the first week of 2024, as losses in the United States futures more than countered the supportive influence of a weaker Canadian dollar.

Feed weekly outlook: Several factors weighing on prices
Warm weather means less feed needed, easier movement says analyst
Feed grain prices across the Canadian Prairies are expected to continue falling back for the next few months due to a number of reasons, according to Evan Peterson of JGL Commodities in Saskatoon, Sask.

Prairie forecast: Winter temperatures moving in
Issued Jan. 03, covering: Jan. 3 – 10
Looking at this forecast period, the best way I can describe it is that we will be seeing a slow slide into more seasonal temperatures. The persistent upper-level ridging that brought warm--and record warm temperatures--to much of the prairies in December has broken down. The weather models are showing a trough of low pressure developing over the west coast over the next seven days.

Klassen: Feeder market quiets at year-end
Feeding margins have moved into negative territory, setting a negative tone for replacements
The last full week of 2023 was characterized by lower volumes and limited buying interest. Feedlot operators don’t want to weigh down schedules of hired hands over the holidays. Many auction barns were closed for the season while some held bred cows and bred heifer sales.

Prairie forecast: One more week of above average temperatures
Issued Dec. 27, covering Dec. 27 to Jan. 3
As we head into a new year, it's looking like this could be the last mild forecast period before a switch to a more typical winter weather pattern.
As usual, there is always a fair bit of uncertainty in forecasts beyond seven or so days, but we all knew that at some point we'd see some cold wintery weather move in.

Prairie forecast: Mild and dry weather right through to the New Year
Issued Dec. 20, covering Dec. 20 to Jan. 1
The holiday weather picture is starting to shape up, and if you're hoping for a perfect Christmas day with falling snow, I wouldn’t get my hopes up. If you are hoping for a continuation of mild winter weather, then it looks like you are in luck.

Manitoba earmarks funds for sustainable aviation fuel plant
The facility may produce as much as one billion litres of canola and soy-based jet fuel
Calgary-based firm Azure Sustainable Fuels Corp. plans to use Canadian feedstock like soybean and canola oils to produce as much as one billion litres of renewable aviation fuel per year, the news release added.

Feed weekly outlook: U.S. corn imports keep lid on Prairie feed grains
Mild Prairie weather contributing to lower feed demand
Glacier FarmMedia – Feed prices for barley and wheat across much of Western Canada are very likely to remain low until the end of winter/the beginning of spring, according to Erin Harakal of Agfinity in Stony Plain, Alta.

Sugar beet growers seek to expand sector with domestic policy
It wouldn’t stop strikes, but it would recharge Canada’s sugar industry, says producer group
The Alberta Sugar Beet Growers want a national domestic sugar policy, which the organization says could lay the foundation for resurgence in the sector.