Canadian farmers are expected to increase barley acreage this year as U.S. farmers plant more corn acres.

Klassen: Barley outlook

Market Talk with Jerry Klassen

The feed grains complex has been volatile over the past month as the market moves through a transition phase. During the second week of May, southern Alberta feedlots were buying feed barley in the range of $255/mt to $265/mt delivered while central Alberta operations were making purchases from $240/mt to $250/mt delivered. For September delivery, […] Read more

An outbreak in anthrax occurs primarily in wet springs followed by a very hot, dry summer or in very dry conditions.

Preventing anthrax in cattle

In dry years, livestock graze closer to the ground and may come in contact with spores

With the fall 2018 anthrax outbreak in northern B.C., now is an ideal time to review prevention strategies. In 2006 we learned lots about the disease and how to control it with the big outbreak in Western Canada. Cattle are very susceptible, along with a long list of other species including bison and horses. It […] Read more



CME October 2019 live cattle, with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle closed mixed

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed mixed on Tuesday, with expectations for a weak cash trade pressuring the benchmark August contract while back months ended firm, traders said. Packers were not bidding aggressively for cattle, a factor that some traders took as a bearish signal. “The bids that were out […] Read more


Swidersky trains cattle to walk under the wire by setting up two risers like a gate.


Tips for using risers with electric fencing

Grazing: News Roundup from the June 2019 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Replacing gates with risers that lift up electric fencing may be beneficial to producers looking to save time and money. Several producers are taking advantage of tools that lift electric wire, allowing cattle to walk under the wire instead of through a gate. “I love using these lifters. They are by far one of my […] Read more

Feeder cattle futures moved sharply lower at the start of May.

McMillin: Cattle prices see sharp decline

The Markets with Deb McMillin, from the June 2019 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Fed cattle Fed cattle prices have seen a sharp price decline over the past couple of weeks. Current fed steer prices are averaging $150.88/cwt, which is a decrease of $11.55/cwt over the past three weeks. Pressure in May is typical following the spring high in the fed market. While barbecue season is just getting started, […] Read more






Dr. Calvin Booker has been involved with Feedlot Management Service’s carbon offset projects since the company first explored the programs in 2009.

Carbon offset projects may provide financial opportunities

There are two types of carbon market structures

Opportunities are emerging for beef producers to benefit from carbon dioxide emission offset markets at both the cow-calf and feeder levels. Agricultural emission offset projects are attractive to companies required to purchase emission offsets and those voluntarily making a positive environmental impact. The added benefits of these projects, a result of sustainable production practices, are […] Read more