Compared to last week, western Canadian yearlings traded $2-$4 higher. This was the first week of the fall yearling run with larger groups of quality packages and there was no shortage of buying enthusiasm. Heavier yearlings were readily trading at 52-week highs. Feed barley prices collapsed in southern Alberta as the harvest started in the […] Read more
Klassen: Weaker feed grains drive feeder market higher
Prairie cash wheat: Loonie, U.S. prices trigger steep declines
U.S. wheat futures well down on week
MarketsFarm — Wheat bids in Western Canada were significantly lower for the week ended Thursday. Those includes double-digit losses for Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat and Canada Prairie Spring Red (CPSR). Losses in Canada Western Amber Durum (CWAD) were relatively smaller. Pressure came from sharp losses in U.S. markets and equally sharp gains in […] Read more
Alberta loosens animal slaughter rules after pandemic hit packers
Reuters – Canada’s main cattle-producing province, Alberta, said on Wednesday it would allow the slaughter of animals on farms for meat sales to consumers, loosening regulations after the coronavirus pandemic interrupted production at its biggest packing plants. Alberta previously restricted the consumption of meat from animals slaughtered outside of government-inspected plants to farmers and their […] Read more
Wendy’s secures Canadian greenhouse lettuce supply
Alberta grower to provide sandwich, salad lettuce nationwide
The Canadian wing of U.S. burger chain Wendy’s is going strictly indoors, in southern Alberta, to supply all the lettuce for its salad, burger and chicken sandwich offerings across the country. Whole Leaf, based outside Coaldale, about 20 km east of Lethbridge, was announced last week as the lettuce supplier for the chain’s 384 stores […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market in summer mode
Set-aside program not having much effect yet on prices
Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle prices were relatively unchanged. Volumes are quite thin at this time of year, which makes the market hard to define. Steady demand surfaced on quality groups of yearlings and calves, while late stragglers and heavier-flesh feeders were severely discounted. Pasture conditions are favourable across the Prairies and […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Prices to soften as new crop year nears
MarketsFarm — Prices for feed barley and wheat will decline as the new crop year gets closer, according to Erin Harakal, senior trader with Agfinity at Stony Plain, Alta. Harakal said the new crop should start coming off of the fields around the end of August and the beginning of September. “Usually at this time […] Read more
Prairie summer weather patterns to hold for now
MarketsFarm — No major changes in the current weather patterns on the Prairies are expected at this time, according to a pair of weather experts. So far this summer, the region’s weather has been highlighted by warmer and generally drier conditions in the eastern Prairies, while the western portion has been cooler with a great […] Read more
Packing plants back on track, but future uncertain
With a huge backlog of animals to work through, cattle groups are fearful of what comes next
Reading Time: 3 minutes Alberta’s beef-packing plants are working at or near full capacity but the crisis is not over yet, say cattle leaders. “Our processing capacity has continued to increase over the past few weeks and cattle prices have been relatively strong, but markets are still vulnerable to a disruption in the processing plants,” Alberta Beef Producers chair […] Read more
Attention turns to yield potential after StatsCan report
Future tweaks to acreage numbers seen as unlikely to sway markets
MarketsFarm — Updated acreage estimates from Statistics Canada came largely within market expectations, with the focus now shifting to growing conditions and yield potential. The survey was completed in early June “and may not have captured all of the seeding delays and potential shifts that may have happened in central/northern Alberta and northwestern Saskatchewan because […] Read more
Canola area expected to be lower in Monday’s StatsCan report
Later-seeded areas expected to add pulse, barley, durum acres
MarketsFarm — Market participants generally expect canola acreage will be revised downward in a second acreage estimate due out Monday from Statistics Canada. “There’s a lot of uncertainty about canola acres,” Ken Ball of P.I. International in Winnipeg said, noting acreage was “definitely lost” in central and northern Alberta due to wet spring conditions. In […] Read more