Ducklings on display at the Red River Ex in Winnipeg on June 20, 2023 stuck to the shady side of the waterer as daytime temperatures maxed out at nearly 36 C. (Dave Bedard photo)

Prairie Forecast: Shift in the pattern

Issued June 21, covering June 21 to 28

The weather pattern that brought some record heat to the eastern Prairies, and some significant rains to parts of Alberta, looks like it will be undergoing a bit of change during this forecast period. The overall flow across the Prairies appears as though it will become predominantly northwesterly as an upper low sets up over […] Read more

CME August 2023 feeder cattle with Bollinger bands (20,2; right scale) and CBOT September 2023 corn (orange line, left scale). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Feeder cattle down as corn extends rally

Hogs end lower off early gains

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange feeder cattle futures eased on Wednesday, with surging corn prices expected to boost feeding costs in the coming weeks, traders said. But live cattle contracts were close to unchanged. Hog futures fell from a nine-month high on a round of profit-taking, with the most-active August contract snapping a […] Read more


Dr. Dinesh Dadarwal (DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACT) will participate in a study at the LFCE, looking at the use of “ag-tech” to track cows during the calving season.

Scientist to expand his reproductive health research to beef cattle

A University of Saskatchewan veterinarian is exploring how research into the reproductive health of dairy cows as well as emerging technologies can be applied to beef cattle

University of Saskatchewan – “I think there are some clues on the dairy side that have been ignored on the beef side,” said Dr. Dinesh Dadarwal (DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACT), an assistant professor in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. While Dadarwal is focused on cattle research, animal science […] Read more

Photo: File

U.S. livestock: Hogs rally to nine-month high; cattle ease

Cattle futures weaker on seasonal slowdown and profit-taking round

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures rose to a nine-month high as a recent slowdown in the pace of slaughter limited the amount of retail supplies. Cattle futures were weaker on an expected seasonal slowdown and a round of profit-taking, traders said. CME July hogs jumped three cents to 95.85 cents per […] Read more


Making the most of your grazing season

Making the most of your grazing season

Nutrition with John McKinnon

As grazing activity gets underway across the country, beef producers begin to turn their attention to other activities associated with their operation. From a herd nutrition perspective, the thinking of many is “Let the grass take care of the cattle.” Such thinking, while natural, can lead to issues that affect the health and productivity of […] Read more

File photo of the produce section at a Canadian grocery store. (FatCamera/E+/Getty Images)

Canada retools inflation baskets with more focus on food, gas

Snowblowers and barbecues in, DVD players out

Ottawa | Reuters — Canada’s national statistics agency on Tuesday revealed new weights for the basket of goods and services in its Consumer Price Index, giving more prominence to changes in the prices of food and gasoline. The reweighting, which Statistics Canada carries out every year, has historically had only a marginal impact on the […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: 800-lb. steers touch $300/cwt mark

Nearby cash market at odds with futures

For the week ending June 17, western Canadian feeder cattle prices were quoted $2-$5/cwt higher on average compared to seven days earlier. However, larger packages of quality yearlings traded $8-$10/cwt above week-ago levels. The market was hard to define because available supplies are dwindling at this time of year. The quality of cattle was extremely […] Read more

File photo of the Raohe Night Market in Taipei, Taiwan’s capital. (Fazon1/iStock/Getty Images)

Taiwan formally opens to OTM Canadian beef

BSE-era restriction now lifted

Taiwan has officially lifted its import ban on Canadian beef and beef products from animals over 30 months of age (OTMs). Canada’s Trade Minister Mary Ng and Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau announced the move Friday, saying Taiwan’s decision “will offer an opportunity to expand Canadian beef exports to Taiwan and diversify export markets in the […] Read more


‘Feedlots are back in the black on cash sales for the first time in a long time.’ – Nathan Phinney

CCA reports: CCA undertakes trade mission to Japan, advocates for free trade

From the June 2023 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Optimism is the key motivation that keeps many of us going through the tough times. It’s human nature to focus our thoughts on the challenges and adversity that face beef producers across the country — whether it is extreme weather, trade irritants affecting our ability to export our product to global markets or hearing about […] Read more

(RyanJLane/E+/Getty Images)

Canada warns VCOOL would sabotage shared Canada-U.S. goals, supply chains

The Canadian government has submitted its views on proposed U.S. food labelling rules

Proposed U.S. country of origin labelling rules run contrary to mutual Canada and U.S. goals to reduce inflation, improve food security and build resilient supply chains, according to a submission from the Canadian government to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “One of the great strengths of the U.S.-Canada bilateral relationship is the successful integration of […] Read more