MarketsFarm — Prices for feed barley and wheat will decline as the new crop year gets closer, according to Erin Harakal, senior trader with Agfinity at Stony Plain, Alta. Harakal said the new crop should start coming off of the fields around the end of August and the beginning of September. “Usually at this time […] Read more

Feed weekly outlook: Prices to soften as new crop year nears

Merged Manitoba crop groups qualify for checkoffs
Manitoba Crop Alliance also names top brass
The new unit formed from the merger of five Manitoba crop commodity organizations is set to begin collecting checkoffs for its founding groups’ crops, starting Aug. 1. The Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA) announced Monday it now has its designation under the provincial Agricultural Producers’ Organization Funding Act. The designation allows the new organization to collect […] Read more

Prairie summer weather patterns to hold for now
MarketsFarm — No major changes in the current weather patterns on the Prairies are expected at this time, according to a pair of weather experts. So far this summer, the region’s weather has been highlighted by warmer and generally drier conditions in the eastern Prairies, while the western portion has been cooler with a great […] Read more

Flea beetle damage ‘moderate’ across Prairies so far
Levels in Manitoba hit thresholds for spraying, reseeding canola
MarketsFarm — Flea beetles, cutworms and diamondback moths are only a few of the pests Prairie farmers have to deal with — and this year, so far, damage from flea beetles and cutworms has varied, as have moth counts. “Flea beetles are common throughout the Prairies, everywhere we grow canola. We haven’t been able to […] Read more

Feed weekly outlook: Barley prices close to ceiling
MarketsFarm — Feed barley prices, which climbed during May, have very likely risen as far as they can go, said Nelson Neumann, senior trader with Agfinity at Stony Plain, Alta. “We’re at the point where corn can be a cheaper alternative. There’s a ceiling on the market and we’re pretty much at that ceiling,” Neumann […] Read more

Klassen: Canadian feeder market divorces from U.S. values
Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle prices were relatively unchanged. Lower volumes were on offer across the Prairies and the quality was quite variable at smaller sales. Many auction barns are in summer mode; however, there were decent volumes in the major feeding regions of Alberta. Strong feedlot demand was evident on quality […] Read more

Klassen: Feeder market recovery continues
Strength in fed cattle prices the main driver
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were $6-$8 higher on average while calves were unchanged to $4 higher. Strength in fed cattle prices was the main factor driving the feeder cattle market this week. Alberta direct fed cattle sales were reported on a live basis from $150 to $153 f.o.b. the feedlot, up […] Read more

Insurance customers’ contact info dropped into MASC email
Crown crop insurance agency warns of privacy breach
A contact list of crop insurance customers at Manitoba Agricultural Services Corp. has gone out via email to several dozen of the Crown ag insurance agency’s customers. MASC on Monday said a file containing names and contact information of an unspecified number of AgriInsurance clients was “attached in error” to an email sent last Tuesday […] Read more

HyLife buys pork packing, hog production capacity
Firm buys stake in U.S. packer, Manitoba hog farming business
Canadian hog production and pork processing firm HyLife has moved to expand its reach in North American pork packing as well as Manitoba hog farming. La Broquerie, Man.-based HyLife announced last week it has bought a 75 per cent stake in Taylor Corp.’s Prime Pork, a packing and processing operation at Windom, Minnesota, about 200 […] Read more

Feed weekly outlook: Cheaper corn to temper rising barley bids
Lack of farmer selling a factor in bids
MarketsFarm — Rising feed barley prices in Western Canada may be nearing their upper limit, as end users look to add more cheaper corn to their rations. “The higher that barley and wheat get, the more attractive corn gets,” said Mike Fleischhauer of Eagle Commodities in Lethbridge. “If barley and wheat go any higher, we’ll […] Read more