David Wiens. (Photo: CNW Group/Dairy Farmers of Canada)

Manitoba dairyman named to lead national body

David Wiens elected president of Dairy Farmers of Canada

The vice-president of Dairy Farmers of Canada has levelled up to lead the organization following elections at its annual meeting Wednesday in Winnipeg. David Wiens, who farms with his brother at Grunthal, Man., about 50 km southeast of Winnipeg, replaces Pierre Lampron, an organic dairy farmer in Quebec’s Mauricie region and DFC president since 2017. […] Read more

CME August 2023 live cattle with 20- and 50-day moving averages and October 2023 live cattle (black line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME cattle down off contract highs on profit-taking

Hogs also down off early strength

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures turned lower on Wednesday on a round of profit-taking after most months climbed to life-of-contract highs, with a seasonal downturn in beef prices adding to bearish sentiment, traders said. Most-active August live cattle futures settled down 1.95 cents at 176.875 cents/lb., retreating after rising to […] Read more


JBS signage at Greeley, Colorado. (JBS.com.br)

Brazil’s JBS reboots plan to list shares in New York

International meat packer hopes for access to lower-cost capital

Sao Paulo | Reuters — JBS SA, the world’s largest meat packer, on Wednesday proposed listing its shares in New York, hoping the move will bring its multiples closer to peers and that a broader investor base will give it more access to cheaper capital, sending its shares up eight per cent in mid-morning trade. […] Read more

Making the most of available forage

Making the most of available forage

Start the grazing season with a plan and lower cost of production over time

Developing a grazing plan is an important first step to ensure effective grazing management on an operation, and it can help save a producer on cost of production in the long run. A grazing plan that matches animal numbers to predicted forage yields should be made before turn out. Several key steps should be included: setting objectives […] Read more


(Diane Kuhl/iStock/Getty Images)

Dates moved up in dairy sector’s CUSMA compensation calendar

Calculation date will shift to Aug. 31

Changes are being made to the timetable for the remainder of the program compensating Canada’s dairy farmers for market share lost to recent multilateral trade deals. The Dairy Direct Payment Program (DDPP), which issued $1.75 billion over four payments from 2019 to 2023 to compensate for the Canada-European Union (CETA) and Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade […] Read more

File photo of cattle in an Alberta feedlot. (Geralyn Wichers photo)

Alberta lifts feeder loan guarantee limit

Amendment boosts individual limit by 50 per cent

Alberta has boosted the limit on the size of loan available under its Feeder Associations Loan Guarantee program, aiming to help producers keep up against rising livestock prices. An order in council amending the provincial Feeder Associations Guarantee Regulation was approved Monday, raising that program’s individual and joint-membership loan limit to $3 million, from $2 […] Read more


CME August 2023 lean hogs with 20- and 50-day moving averages and October 2023 lean hogs (black line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME hogs rally as pork prices rise

August live cattle touch new contract high

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures closed higher on Tuesday, bouncing after a three-session slide as wholesale pork prices rose and cash hog prices firmed, traders said, while tight cattle supplies sent futures to life-of-contract highs. CME August lean hogs settled up 3.4 cents at 97.575 cents/lb., and the October contract […] Read more

(Dragos Cojocari/iStock/Getty Images)

Pork sector calls for essential service status amid B.C. port strike

Council says pork should receive same consideration as grains

Leaders in Canada’s pork sector are calling on the federal government to give perishable agriculture products the same consideration and protection as grain. The call comes as a longshore workers’ strike at British Columbia’s West Coast ports nears its second week, blocking the shipment of Canadian meat and most other exports. Canadian Pork Council (CPC) […] Read more


(Geralyn Wichers photo)

Klassen: Feeder market consolidates at historical highs

Higher borrowing costs offset lower feed prices

For the week ending Saturday, western Canadian yearling steer prices were quoted $2-$4 higher; yearling heifers traded $2 higher to $5 lower. Calves were relatively unchanged although volumes were limited. Larger groups of quality genetics were well bid while second tier cattle were marginally discounted off the highs. Some ranches are liquidating yearlings about one […] Read more

CME October 2023 live cattle with 20- and 100-day moving averages and August 2023 live cattle (dark red line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME cattle end higher on firm cash values

Hogs settle lower off recent highs

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures ended modestly higher on Monday on follow-though buying from Friday and carry-over strength from last week’s strong cash cattle market. Cash cattle traded late last week as high as $184-$185 per hundredweight (cwt) in northern feedlot areas, traders said, up from sales of around $178-$182 […] Read more