Feeder cattle placements in January 2022 were four per cent lower than the previous year.

Cull cow prices see normal first-quarter improvement

The Markets with Deb McMillin, from the April 2022 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Fed cattle Large kill volumes through February and increased front-end supply in the U.S. have held the fed cattle market in a tight trading range. Fed cattle prices in Western Canada ranged from $161.31/cwt to $163.24/cwt over a four-week period. The fed steer average on March 11 was $161.72/cwt. While the fed average is $11.72/cwt […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

AAFC warns of uncertainty in latest crop outlook

MarketsFarm — The supply/demand balance sheets for Canada’s major crops were largely left unchanged in the latest outlook Friday from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. While the March report only saw minor revisions, the government agency cautioned that “the economic outlook, for the world and Canadian grain markets, is particularly uncertain due to the Russian invasion […] Read more


(RGtimeline/iStock/Getty Images)

Feed weekly outlook: Sector bracing for logistics challenge

A CP lockout could put feeders weeks behind in supplies

MarketsFarm — Feed grain buyers in Alberta’s feedlot alley are well covered with contracted supplies, but the logistics of getting that grain where it needs to be are facing some uncertainty with looming labour action at Canadian Pacific Railway. Buyers in feedlot alley are about 80 per cent covered right now, said Jim Beusekom of […] Read more



“We are by nature resilient and innovative.” – Rick Strankman, Altario, Alta.

Drought dilemmas detail struggles, triumphs

A cattle producer “community coffee shop” discussion from across the Prairies

If there had been a cattle producer’s “word of the year” for 2021, it likely would have been “drought.” Beef producers across the Prairies probably muttered that word daily and vexed about the situation hourly. The condition it describes is inescapable, but just how did producers deal with it? Feed – and water Peter Schwenk, […] Read more

Photo: File

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


(File photo)

Low demand for barley keeps prices stable

Wheat's volatility not reflecting onto barley values

MarketsFarm — Unlike the dramatic leaps wheat prices have made since the Russian invasion of Ukraine 12 days ago, malt barley prices have moved very little, according to Kris Moric of Johnston’s Grains in Calgary. Wheat “is not pulling barley prices with it, as far as we can see on our end,” Moric said, noting […] Read more