Feeder Cattle Market Looking Forward

Feeder Cattle Market Looking Forward

Calving season is coming to an end for many cow-calf producers and it is that time of year when I receive inquiries regarding the marketing strategy for this recent calf crop. At the same time, cow-calf pair prices have started to reflect the present value of future earnings and producers are asking if current values […] Read more

close-up of grains of corn

Corn outlook

The U.S. corn market has a large influence on world coarse grain values and the Canadian barley market. Over the past month, we’ve seen barley prices delivered Lethbridge increase from $180/mt to $195/mt moving directly in line with the corn market. When barley stocks are extremely tight, barley needs to trade at a premium to […] Read more


Feeder cattle market outlook

Canadian feeder cattle prices have traded at record highs over the past month due to lower feed grain values and historically strong fed-cattle markets. Cattle inventories continue to shrink in Canada and the U.S. and the market is functioning to encourage expansion which has also contributed to the higher price structure. The market can become […] Read more

Cattle numbers down, as expected

Statistics Canada – Canadian farmers reported 12.2 million cattle on their farms as of January 1, down 0.7 per cent from January 1, 2013. Hog producers reported 12.7 million hogs, a 1.1 per cent increase over January 1, 2013, while the number of sheep fell 1.0 per cent to 893,000 head. Overall, cattle prices rose and feed costs declined in the second half of 2013. However, this did not translate […] Read more


Barley Price Outlook

Cash barley values in the Lethbridge area have been hovering at $155/mt delivered in January. The barley market has been functioning to encourage demand as the market adjusts to the larger barley and wheat crops in Western Canada. Offshore movement has been limited due to tight fobbing capacity on the West Coast and rail delays […] Read more

Beef demand looking forward

Common market talk regarding the cattle market has to do with cattle inventories and beef production. We all hear about how the calf crop is at historically low levels and the cow herd is shrinking, and yet prices fail to make fresh highs. The reason, which most coffee shop analysts fail to look at, is demand. Statistics Canada and the […] Read more


Feed Grains Overview

The feed grains complex has been under pressure throughout the fall season due to larger Canadian barley and U.S. corn production. Now that harvest is wrapped up, the fundamental structure is basically set for the crop year. Barley and corn values also affect feeder cattle prices and the overall margin structure for feedlot operators. Corn […] Read more