The December live cattle futures made a low of $173.50 on September 9. At the time of writing this article, the December contract was $189. During September and October, the live cattle futures rallied about $16. In the U.S., the four largest packing firms handle 85 per cent of all steer and heifer purchases. Apparently, […] Read more

Stronger demand and lower supplies boost price
Market Talk with Jerry Klassen

Klassen: Canadian feeder market jumps on trade disruptions
For the week ending November 29, feeder cattle market reports from Manitoba had prices up $20-$40/cwt from week-ago levels. Prices in Saskatchewan and Alberta were up $10 to $20 on average. The market was hard to define this past week with a wide range prices across Western Canada for similar quality and weight cattle.

Klassen: Upward momentum continues for feeder cattle prices
For the week ending November 23, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $3 to $6 higher with some quality heifer packages up as much as $10 compared to seven days earlier.

What is market analysis for the cattle producer?
Market Talk with Jerry Klassen
When I provide cattle or grain market outlooks for a producer group or specific organization, I start the presentation by asking how many of the attendees subscribe to some type of market analysis. It is no surprise that there is usually a handful of people who put up their hands. Often cattle producers will say […] Read more

Klassen: Feeder market climbs another step
For the week ending November 16, Western Canadian calves over 650 pounds were up $3-$6/cwt compared to seven days earlier. Calves under 650 pounds traded $4/cwt to as much as $10/cwt higher.

Klassen: Strong demand continues to sustain feeder market
The weaker Canadian dollar has enhanced the feeding margin structure on incoming replacement calves and this translated into stronger values on premium genetic packages. Finishing feedlot operators in Alberta and Ontario were fairly aggressive in Manitoba and Saskatchewan markets.

Klassen: Feeder market holds at higher levels
For the week ending November 2, Western Canadian yearling and calf markets were relatively unchanged from seven days earlier. Strong demand continues to support the feeder complex at historical high prices.

Klassen: Western Canadian calf market surges
For the week ending 26, Western Canadian calf markets were up $8-$12/cwt on average compared to seven days earlier. Pee-wee calves were up $20-$25/cwt compared to the prior week. Finishing feedlot operators were active buyers in all weight categories while backgrounders were cleaning up on smaller packages of calves under 550 pounds.

Barley market fundamentals look tight for 2024-25
Market Talk with Jerry Klassen
Earlier in the summer, we were expecting a year-over-year increase in Canadian barley production. Acreage projections were above year-ago levels and up until June 30, most of Western Canada had received above-normal precipitation. Both acreage and yield projections have reversed course. Canadian barley seeded area for the 2024 campaign was down nearly one million acres from […] Read more

Klassen: Canadian feeder markets trades premium to U.S. values
For the week ending October 19, Western Canadian yearling markets traded $3 to $5 on either side of unchanged compared to seven days earlier. Calf prices were $5 to as much as $10 higher. Strength in the deferred live cattle futures along with the weaker Canadian dollar has resulted in positive margins on incoming calves. Therefore, the calf market has developed a floor price.