Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $2 to as much as $8 lower on average. Calf markets were relatively unchanged to $10 lower. There was moderate demand for top quality grass yearlings but plainer types experienced softer buying interest. Pre-conditioned calves held value but unweaned bawlers appear to set back $5-$10. Seasonally, […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market falters at record highs
Risk premiums in market seen eroding
Alberta harvest nearing its finish
Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — With a 14-point gain on the week, the Alberta harvest surpassed the three-quarters complete mark. As of Tuesday, Alberta farmers reached 79 per cent finished, just as cooler but drier weather was about to set in, the province reported. While contending with mostly dry conditions, the harvest over the week was 16 points […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Barley bids near bottom post-harvest
Feed corn values narrowing against barley
MarketsFarm — After a better-than-expected harvest across the Canadian Prairies, feed grain prices on the region either have bottomed out or soon will, according to Evan Peterson of JGL Commodities in Saskatoon. “They’ve dropped significantly in the past three to four weeks as harvest pressure kicked off,” he said, citing feed barley going into feedlot […] Read more
Prairie Forecast: Summer tries to hang on
Issued Sept. 27, covering Sept. 27 to Oct. 4
For being this far into fall, the weather models have been surprisingly accurate. Heck, I didn’t even need to send an update for the last issue! Not sure if I can be as optimistic for this forecast period, as we are moving deeper into fall and starting to see the first hints of winter trying […] Read more
Klassen: Lower beef production forecasts support feeder complex
Major feedlots seen aggressive on quality calves
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $2-$4 on either side of unchanged. Calf markets were steady to $5 higher on average, with stronger buying interest on preconditioned weaned steer calves. Light calves weighing under 500 lbs. appeared to jump $10-$20 in certain regions. This past week, focus of finishing feedlots switched from […] Read more
Agrivoltaics are Alberta’s energy silver bullet
It is possible to both foster solar power infrastructure and preserve farmland
Reading Time: 3 minutes The Alberta government recently announced a much-maligned seven-month pause on renewable energy development in the province. While the exact reasons are up for debate, one specific factor has been the desire to investigate ways to make renewable energy, particularly solar, more integrated within the province over the long term. Specifically, there is a real concern […] Read more
High-path avian flu pops back up in Saskatchewan, Alberta
Canada keeps sights on 'country-level freedom' from virus
Even after 21 months of highly pathogenic avian influenza cases in Canada — including three new cases in domestic birds so far this month — Canada’s “stamping out” policy for the virus remains in effect. Canada’s active caseload of the virus now comes down to just eight of the 325 premises affected since December 2021. […] Read more
Prairie cash wheat: Harvest pressure, falling U.S. futures weigh on bids
Canadian dollar up on the week
MarketsFarm — Spring wheat bids in Western Canada moved lower during the week ended Thursday, as seasonal harvest pressure and losses in U.S. futures weighed on values. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS, 13.5 per cent protein) wheat prices were down $5.30-$8 per tonne across the Prairies, according to price quotes from a cross-section of […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Harvest pressure, looming corn imports weigh on barley bids
Some yields turn out 'better than expected'
MarketsFarm — Seasonal harvest pressure and expectations for large corn deliveries from the United States should limit any upside potential in feed barley bids in Western Canada for the foreseeable future despite this year’s smaller crop. “We’re getting some better-than-expected yields (in central Alberta), so there is some harvest pressure with guys needing to move […] Read more
Prairie Forecast: Warm fall weather to continue
Issued Sept. 20, covering Sept. 20-27
Even with some uncertainty in the last forecast, the weather models did a surprisingly good job. At one point it looked like I was going to have to send out an update as the models started trending toward a cooler pattern, but they quickly reversed back to a warm pattern. This brought the expected heat […] Read more
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