MarketsFarm — Feed grain bids in southern Alberta are cooling down as temperatures warm up after a bitter cold spell earlier in the month. After dealing with temperatures in the -20 C to -34 C range over much of the week ended Jan. 17, conditions in the key Lethbridge feeding area have flipped the other […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Temperatures rise, Prairie bids cool down
U.S. livestock: Cattle stumble to two-month low ahead of USDA report
Lean hogs follow cutout values higher
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live and feeder cattle futures dropped to their lowest prices in about two months on Thursday as traders adjusted positions before a government report that is expected to show an increase in supplies. Hog futures, meanwhile, advanced to their highest prices in about two weeks. The U.S. Department of Agriculture […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Best not to wait to sell
MarketsFarm — As warmer winter temperatures are bound to happen, the sooner farmers can sell their feed grain the better, said Nelson Neumann, senior trader for Agfinity at Stony Plain, Alta. “There’s still a lot of high-moisture feed grain that’s in storage and frozen,” he said, commenting “I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw a […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Firm undertone to Prairie grains
MarketsFarm — Solid demand from cattle feeders and ongoing logistic issues across the Prairies should keep a firm undertone in the feed grain market for the time being, according to an Alberta broker. “The feed market has definitely moved higher,” said Brandon Motz of CorNine Commodities at Lacombe, Alta., adding “demand is strong through feedlot […] Read more
Klassen: Fed cattle market underpins feeder cattle prices
Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis at an average price of $275 delivered, which equates to $165 on a live basis. Fed cattle prices are now at 52-week highs and feeding margins are in the range of $50 to $70 per head. Strength in the cash fed cattle market was supportive […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Steady now but supplies will weigh
MarketsFarm — Recent strength in U.S. wheat futures may be lending some spillover support to Canadian feed grain bids, but large supplies and a lack of aggressive demand kept the market steady heading into the New Year. The rise in wheat futures “has made the farmer a more reluctant seller,” said Allen Pirness of MarketPlace […] Read more
Klassen: Improving margins support lightweight feeder cattle
Compared to last week, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $2 to $4 on either side of unchanged; however, calves under 650 pounds were steady to as much as $5 higher. Bids from Alberta packers were sharply higher with fed cattle trading in the range of $160 to $162 on Friday, up $5 to $6 […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market volatility continues
Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded steady to $5 higher on average. For the second week in a row, the markets were quite variable across the Prairies but shorter-keep yearlings appeared to lead the charge higher. In Alberta, quality 900-lb. steers were once again touching the $190 level and 800-lb.-plus steers […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Grains pressured by lower demand
MarketsFarm — Bids for feed grains have backed off previous highs as feedlots in Western Canada are covered into the New Year. “Now they’re bidding January and forward,” said Allen Pirness of Market Place Commodities in Lethbridge. Bids for feed barley and feed wheat delivered from January to March were around $220 per tonne, according […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market under weight of imports
Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $5 lower to $2 higher. It’s that time of year when most feedlots are carrying sufficient numbers and buyers are hesitant to increase ownership unless they can see profitability. Auction market volumes contained weaned and unweaned calves over the past week; premiums returned for feeders […] Read more
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