CME August 2022 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-day moving average (pink line) and June 2022 live cattle (black line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle mixed on uncertain consumer demand

Export strength supports lean hogs

Indianapolis | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures were mixed on Thursday, with nearby contracts firming, while the most-active cattle futures eased pressured by inflationary concerns, though markets remain underpinned by tight cattle supplies across much of the U.S. Plains, analysts said. “The weakness comes from the uncertainty of the economy – how […] Read more

There’s no need to power your whole farm, says one Alberta rancher. Only electrify the pasture fences the cattle currently use to save time.

Time-saving tips for electric fences

Whether you’re setting up or troubleshooting an electric fence, these tips can make your life easier

Rotational grazing generally makes better use of pastures than season-long grazing, allowing plants time to recover and produce more forage. Temporary electric fencing makes rotation quick and easy, but it’s not without its problems. Steve Kenyon, a rancher near Busby, Alta., has been rotational grazing for a long time and bale grazing for more than […] Read more


Riley Bloom watches adults work with cattle from a safe distance. 
According to Canadian Agriculture Safety Organization (CASA), having designated “safe spaces” helps keep kids safe on the ranch.

AUDIO: Tips for keeping kids safe through branding, haying and beyond

In many areas, brandings are a community affair, with neighbours and families getting together to share food and drinks while they work. But for families attending these events, children’s safety can be a concern. Taylor Bloom, who farms south of Dismore, Sask., with her husband and two children, says that although her children are only […] Read more

CME August 2022 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, dark red and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle climb as cash markets surge

Firm cash prices also supportive in hogs

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures jumped two per cent on Wednesday, lifted by rising prices for market-ready cattle in the cash market, traders said. Cash cattle traded in Nebraska at around $145 per hundredweight, traders said, up $2-$4 from last week and significantly higher than nearby futures prices (all figures […] Read more


File photo of cattle in a Kansas feedlot. (BeyondImages/E+/Getty Images)

Heat, humidity kill at least 2,000 Kansas cattle, state says

Chicago | Reuters — Extreme heat and humidity killed thousands of cattle in Kansas in recent days, the state said, and sizzling temperatures continue to threaten livestock. The deaths add pain to the U.S. cattle industry as producers have reduced herds due to drought and grappled with feed costs that climbed as Russia’s invasion of […] Read more

AUDIO: Five ‘burning questions’ for sons- and daughters-in-law facing succession

AUDIO: Five ‘burning questions’ for sons- and daughters-in-law facing succession

The succession process for farms and ranches can be hard enough for “blood” family members. But what if you’re a son- or daughter-in-law who’s either the direct successor or their spouse? After all, you haven’t been in the family loop your entire life. There are a few “burning questions” you should ask your in-laws even […] Read more



CME June 2022 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, dark red and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle bounce back on bargain buying

July hogs touch six-day high, end lower

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures finished higher on Tuesday in a rebound from recent losses, brokers said. However, concerns about the risk of beef demand falling due to U.S. inflation continued to hang over the market, analysts said. They warn rising prices may increasingly push consumers to eat cheaper food […] Read more


Pickup trucks roll out of General Motors’ assembly plant at Oshawa, Ont. (Media.gm.ca)

GM CEO says ‘we are selling every truck we can build’

Rising fuel prices not seen undermining big truck demand, yet

Detroit | Reuters — General Motors CEO Mary Barra said on Monday the automaker is “selling every truck we can build” and expanding North American truck-building capacity, even as U.S. gasoline prices hit record highs. Barra made her comments during the automaker’s annual shareholder meeting. GM is pursuing a two-track strategy: Investing heavily in electric […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Rains enhance demand for grass cattle

Deferred cattle futures showing strength

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $2-$3 on either side of unchanged; steer calves under 700 lbs. were steady to $2 higher on average; heifer calves were steady to $5 higher. Southern Alberta, along with the western half of Alberta, received 30-40 mm of rain over the week which enhanced demand for […] Read more