Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $262-$265 delivered this past week. Using a 60 per cent grading, the live price would be in the range of $157-$159. If a feedlot booked the bulk of its feed grains earlier in winter, feeding margins are now hovering in positive […] Read more
Klassen: Cattle producers facing drought-like conditions
Canada’s soybean, corn acres projected to rise
StatsCan's estimates see Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba planting more
Statistics Canada’s first read of farmers’ intentions for the 2021 growing season shows more Canadian acres going into both soybeans and corn. Farmers nationwide anticipate planting 5.3 million acres to soy in 2021, up 5.5 per cent from 2020, StatsCan said in its field crop survey released Tuesday. “An increase in anticipated (soy) area is […] Read more
More flax expected in 2021
More acres predicted, but how many more?
MarketsFarm — Flax prices in Western Canada have remained strong and are down little off their recent highs, according to Scott Shiels of Grain Millers Canada Corp. at Yorkton, Sask. Shiels believes those good prices will lead producers to plant more acres of flax this spring — but not the 22 per cent hike to […] Read more
Prairies hit hard by drought
Parts of south-central, southwestern Manitoba among driest
MarketsFarm — A new nationwide drought map released by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Canadian Drought Monitor (CDM) shows just how dry conditions are in the Prairies, especially in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Areas in southern Manitoba and southern Saskatchewan have experienced at least six months of drought conditions, according to CDM’s drought assessment as of March […] Read more
Manitoba forage, grassland growers burned by drought
MarketsFarm — An ongoing lack of precipitation, which is showing no signs of letting up in the coming months according to weather forecasts, is already causing problems for Manitoba’s forage and grasslands. Growers in the province have had to deal with three straight years with lower-than-normal precipitation. In 2019, multiple rural municipalities in Manitoba’s Parkland […] Read more
Manitoba’s education tax phase-out begins
Budget pledges a 25 per cent rebate cheque in 2021; existing farmland school tax rebate to be reduced
Manitoba’s latest budget follows through on a move the government telegraphed in last fall’s throne speech, by starting a phased removal of education tax on farm and residential properties. Finance Minister Scott Fielding’s budget, released Wednesday, calls for about $248 million in education tax rebates in 2021 alone for about 658,000 property owners. Owners of […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market exhibits defensive tone
March 30 — Compared to the previous week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded steady to $3 lower on average. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $245-$249 delivered, down from the average value of $250 seven days earlier. Deteriorating feeding margins set a negative tone for the […] Read more
Prairie cash wheat: Bids mixed with falling futures, weaker loonie
MarketsFarm — Bids in Western Canada were mixed this week for Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat and steady to lower for Canada Prairie Spring Red (CPSR) and durum (CWAD). Lower prices in U.S. wheat markets weighed on values, while a weaker Canadian dollar provided support. Average CWRS (13.5 per cent protein) wheat prices were […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Roquette pea plant readying for full operation
MarketsFarm — Operations at the Roquette pea processing plant just west of Portage la Prairie, Man. have been underway since the end of 2020, according to Michelle Finley of Roquette Canada. The company is working toward full operation at the world’s largest pea plant by early 2022, she said. “To date we have picked up […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Prices to remain strong in spring
MarketsFarm — Higher prices for feed grains in Western Canada are expected to stay that way, according to a trader in Alberta. Erin Harakal, senior trader for Agfinity at Stony Plain, Alta., said factors such as increased demand overseas and depleted domestic stocks will continue to keep prices elevated for feed grains. While she doesn’t […] Read more
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