Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were $3-$5 lower on average while calves traded steady to $4 lower. Outside central Alberta, the steer-heifer spread appeared to widen by $2-$4. Strength in corn futures contributed to the defensive tone. Feedlot operators buying hand-to-mouth have been caught off guard with the recent jump in feed […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market showing strength in deferred positions
Prairie cash wheat: Spring wheat nudges higher, durum dips
MarketsFarm — Wheat prices on the Prairies during the week ended Friday saw moderate gains in Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) and Canada Prairie Spring Red (CPSR) wheats while Canada Western Amber Durum (CWAD) eased slightly. The war in Ukraine continued to play havoc in the markets. After strong increases at the start of the […] Read more
Klassen: Deferred live cattle futures underpin feeder cattle prices
Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $2-$4 on either side of unchanged. Major feedlot operations in Alberta continue to carry large numbers of market-ready cattle. The backlog of fed cattle appears to be worse than earlier anticipated. Yearlings were featured at auction barns in the main feeding regions of Alberta. Feedlot […] Read more
Prairie cash wheat: Bids rise in choppy activity
U.S. wheat futures up on week overall
MarketsFarm — Spring wheat bids across Western Canada moved higher during the week ended Thursday, although the uncertain situation in Ukraine saw some wide price swings in U.S. wheat futures. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS, 13.5 per cent protein) wheat prices were up by $11.30-$16.30 per tonne, according to price quotes from a cross-section […] Read more
Spring road bans coming into effect across Prairies
MarketsFarm — Warming temperatures and melting snow across Western Canada may cause some disruptions to grain and livestock movement over the next few weeks as seasonal spring road restrictions come into effect across the Prairies. Annual spring road restrictions set axle weight limits for vehicles moving on certain roads, in an effort to reduce the […] Read more
Most of Prairies still very dry, but recovery possible
Southern Manitoba considered out of drought
MarketsFarm — Despite the Prairies receiving above-normal amounts of precipitation during February, the great majority of the region remained highly vulnerable to more dryness going into spring, according to the Canadian Drought Monitor. The monitor’s latest report showed those areas of the Prairies tackling extreme drought to have retracted somewhat. As of Feb. 28, that […] Read more
Klassen: Surge in feed grain prices shocks feeder cattle market
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $3-$5 lower on average. Feeder cattle weighing 650 to 800 lbs. were relatively unchanged to $3 lower. Calves under 650 lbs. were steady to $4-$6 lower in Alberta, unchanged in Saskatchewan and $3-$5 higher in Manitoba. Fleshier yearlings and calves were heavily discounted last week with […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Manitoba growers hope timely rains follow snows
High N prices may favour pulse acres
MarketsFarm — As March 1 marked the start of meteorological spring, it feels like anything but that in southern Manitoba. One of the snowiest and coldest winters in years has been a mixed blessing for pulse growers, providing much-needed moisture for fields while also raising flood fears in some areas. Dennis Lange, a pulse specialist […] Read more
Prairie cash wheat: Russia-Ukraine conflict fuels price rallies
U.S. wheat futures way up on week
MarketsFarm — Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine has not only sparked a conflict between two of the world’s major wheat exporters, but also limit-up price rallies for wheat futures during the week ended Thursday. As sanctions grow against Russia, as well as uncertainty over access to Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea, fears of a […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Rising oil prices increase freight charges
MarketsFarm — Acquiring livestock feed has been increasingly expensive as Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, and a retaliatory ban on Russian oil imports by many Western nations, has caused oil prices to severely rise every day. As corn imports from the U.S. continue to make their way into Alberta feedlots, the cost to transport them […] Read more
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