There were no major sales last week; however, a few auction barns held sales with a light run of feeder cattle along with bred cows and bred heifers. Compared to seven days earlier, western Canadian feeder cattle prices were relatively unchanged. Liquidation of the cow herd was the main feature on both sides of the […] Read more

Klassen: Feeder market closes year on firm tone

Prairie cash wheat: Prices booked remarkable upswing in 2021
U.S. wheat futures well up on year
MarketsFarm — There were huge gains in wheat prices in Western Canada this past year. Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) and Canada Prairie Spring Red (CPSR) wheats shot up by $200 per tonne or more, while those for Canada Western Amber Durum (CWAD) spiked well in excess of $400 per tonne. Significant increases in U.S. […] Read more

Prairie cash wheat: Bids show small gains
Minneapolis, K.C. March wheats up on week
MarketsFarm — Growing drought concerns in the U.S. and improved export numbers led to higher bids for western Canadian wheat for the week ended Thursday. However, a mid-week selloff on the futures market held back some gains. The southern U.S. Plains, which are a growing area for hard red winter wheat, have been affected by […] Read more

Klassen: Higher fed cattle prices pull up feeder market
Compared to last week, replacement cattle over 800 lbs. traded $10-$15 higher; some quality packages were up $20 from week-ago levels. Feeder cattle weighing 600-800 lbs. traded $4-$8 higher; calves under 600 lbs. were up $6-$10 on average, with some packages in Alberta up as much as $15 from last week. Strength in the fed […] Read more

Prairie cash wheat: Lower U.S. prices pull back bids
U.S. March wheat futures down on week
MarketsFarm — Wheat bids in Western Canada retreated by double digits for Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) and Canada Prairie Spring Red (CPSR) wheats, while those for Canada Western Amber Durum (CWAD) declined more moderately. Significant decreases in U.S. wheat markets and a stronger Canadian dollar combined to weaken Prairie prices. Average CWRS (13.5 protein) […] Read more

Precipitation eases drought conditions on Prairies
Hardest-hit Manitoba sees 'modest' improvements
MarketsFarm — Varied amounts of precipitation are either maintaining or alleviating drought conditions in much of the Prairies, according to the latest nationwide drought map from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) Canadian Drought Monitor (CDM). The latest assessment for the period ended Nov. 30 showed very few areas of worsening drought in the region with […] Read more

Klassen: Feeder market stabilizes
Cow-calf producers selling sooner than normal
Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle prices traded $2-$3 on either side of unchanged. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis at $275 delivered; the Alberta fed market has rallied $10-$12 over the past couple weeks. Secondly, U.S. feeder cattle prices have also rallied US$10-US$12 during the same time frame […] Read more

Prairie cash wheat: Bids mixed, watching futures and currency
U.S. wheat futures down on week
MarketsFarm — Wheat bids across Western Canada were mixed during the week ended Thursday, as losses in U.S. futures were countered by the supportive influence of a weaker Canadian dollar. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS, 13.5 per cent protein) wheat prices were up by $5.20-$10.10 per tonne, according to price quotes from a cross-section […] Read more

Klassen: Feeder market making seasonal lows
Surge of Canadian cattle exports expected
Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder markets were down $2-$4 on average. Prices for feeder cattle in the eastern Prairie regions were relatively unchanged from seven days earlier; however, values in Alberta and western Saskatchewan were down $4 to as much as $8 in some cases. This variation made the market hard to define. […] Read more

Klassen: Fed cattle prices down on the week
Compared to last week, Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were down $4 to $6 on average. Sub quality feeders traded as much as $8 below week ago levels. The market was hard to define with wide price ranges on similar weight feeders within a short distance. Southern Alberta is contending with adverse pen conditions as […] Read more