Canadian farm income, no matter how it’s measured, was up a lot in 2020, data released Wednesday by Statistics Canada show. Canadian net farm income of $18.1 billion is up $4.8 billion from 2019 — a 36.5 per cent increase. Another measure — realized net farm income (RNFI) — saw farmers take in $9.9 billion, […] Read more

StatsCan shows 2020 farm income up significantly
Farm cash receipts were up more than expenses

U.S. livestock: Live cattle, lean hogs firm on meat demand
Corn prices drag on feeder cattle
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog and live cattle futures climbed on Thursday on firming cash beef and pork prices and strong weekly export sales data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Feeder cattle futures were lower, however, pressured by soaring corn feed prices. USDA data released early on Thursday showed […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs ease on profit-taking
Cash prices, corn values drag on cattle futures
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures settled mostly lower on Wednesday, as investors took profits after some nearby contracts scaled the highest levels in years during the session on strong cash hog and pork prices. Cash hog prices remained firm while pork values hovered near the highest in almost seven years, […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs up as pork prices rise, corn tumbles
Corn's decline also feeder cattle's gain
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures rebounded from the prior day’s losses on Tuesday on stronger cash pork prices and a weaker dollar, and as corn feed values fell sharply. Feeder cattle contracts also posted strong gains as benchmark corn futures on the Chicago Board of Trade plunged more than five […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures sink as on-feed supply tops estimates
Profit-taking drags on hogs
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures retreated on Monday after U.S. government data showed supplies in feedlots above trade expectations and as some traders worried about demand for beef. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said late on Friday that May 1 on-feed cattle supplies stood at 105 per cent of […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Hog futures rally to highest since August 2014
USDA's latest cattle count beats forecasts
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures rallied on Friday to their highest in nearly seven years, with strong demand outstripping supplies on hand as restaurants around the U.S. have been reopening after COVID-19 shutdowns, traders said. “We are seeing strong retail demand, with the food service trying to recapture their share of […] Read more

Olymel gets home province’s backing for plant upgrades
Quebec to invest $150 million in packer
Pork and poultry producer and packer Olymel has picked up equity investments from its home province to support a total of $315 million in plant upgrades. The Quebec government announced Tuesday it would invest $74 million in Olymel through its economy and innovation ministry’s Fonds pour la croissance des entreprises quebecois (FCEQ) plus $76 million […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cattle, hog futures up with cash markets
Boxed beef, select cuts priced at one-year highs
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog and cattle futures rose on Wednesday, with the market underpinned by strength in the cash markets. Prices for the cattle contracts hit their highest in nearly a week, but closed off their session peaks as the corn market recovered from sharp declines. The early weakness in corn […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Live cattle futures close to unchanged
CME June lean hog futures fall
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures settled close to unchanged on Monday, with attempts at a bargain-buying rally fizzling out after hitting some key resistance points. Hog futures were lower, notching their third straight day of declines on a technical setback. Cattle futures had weakened along with corn futures to end […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Live cattle down, feeders up with corn
CME lean hog futures down
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures extended losses on Friday on long liquidation that also dragged down corn futures, analysts said. It was the second consecutive day that cattle futures followed declines in the Chicago Board of Trade corn market, which has retreated from eight-year highs reached last week. “Cattle got […] Read more