
Tag Archives Alberta

Prairie Forecast: Summer tries to hang on
Issued Sept. 27, covering Sept. 27 to Oct. 4
For being this far into fall, the weather models have been surprisingly accurate. Heck, I didn’t even need to send an update for the last issue! Not sure if I can be as optimistic for this forecast period, as we are moving deeper into fall and starting to see the first hints of winter trying […] Read more

Klassen: Lower beef production forecasts support feeder complex
Major feedlots seen aggressive on quality calves
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $2-$4 on either side of unchanged. Calf markets were steady to $5 higher on average, with stronger buying interest on preconditioned weaned steer calves. Light calves weighing under 500 lbs. appeared to jump $10-$20 in certain regions. This past week, focus of finishing feedlots switched from […] Read more

High-path avian flu pops back up in Saskatchewan, Alberta
Canada keeps sights on 'country-level freedom' from virus
Even after 21 months of highly pathogenic avian influenza cases in Canada — including three new cases in domestic birds so far this month — Canada’s “stamping out” policy for the virus remains in effect. Canada’s active caseload of the virus now comes down to just eight of the 325 premises affected since December 2021. […] Read more

Prairie cash wheat: Harvest pressure, falling U.S. futures weigh on bids
Canadian dollar up on the week
MarketsFarm — Spring wheat bids in Western Canada moved lower during the week ended Thursday, as seasonal harvest pressure and losses in U.S. futures weighed on values. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS, 13.5 per cent protein) wheat prices were down $5.30-$8 per tonne across the Prairies, according to price quotes from a cross-section of […] Read more

Feed weekly outlook: Harvest pressure, looming corn imports weigh on barley bids
Some yields turn out 'better than expected'
MarketsFarm — Seasonal harvest pressure and expectations for large corn deliveries from the United States should limit any upside potential in feed barley bids in Western Canada for the foreseeable future despite this year’s smaller crop. “We’re getting some better-than-expected yields (in central Alberta), so there is some harvest pressure with guys needing to move […] Read more

Prairie Forecast: Warm fall weather to continue
Issued Sept. 20, covering Sept. 20-27
Even with some uncertainty in the last forecast, the weather models did a surprisingly good job. At one point it looked like I was going to have to send out an update as the models started trending toward a cooler pattern, but they quickly reversed back to a warm pattern. This brought the expected heat […] Read more

Klassen: Stronger live cattle futures enhance feeder demand
Feeder cattle supplies look to be lower than anticipated
Compared to last week, western Canadian grass yearling prices were unchanged to $3/cwt lower on average. Steers held value but heifers had a softer tone. Calf prices were relatively unchanged from seven days earlier. However, weaker barley prices and stronger deferred live cattle prices limited any slippage. The calf market continues to be in price […] Read more

Prairie cash wheat: Spring wheat bids mixed, durum lower
StatCan raises projections for spring wheat harvest
MarketsFarm — Bids for Western Canadian spring wheat were on both sides of unchanged while those for durum were lower for the week ended Thursday. Statistics Canada (StatCan) released its model-based principal field crop production estimates on Thursday, presenting a tightening wheat crop compared to that from 2022-23. All-wheat production was projected at 29.8 million […] Read more

Feed weekly outlook: More demand for barley in Alberta
U.S. corn imports still expected to cap barley values
MarketsFarm — As Alberta’s harvest continued, yields and crop conditions have varied across the province, according to Erin Harakal, trade manager for Agfinity Inc. at Stony Plain, Alta. “There has been such a wide range across the map, it really depends on location,” she said. “We’ve seen some areas that are just below average of […] Read more

Prairie Forecast: One last push of summer-like temperatures
Issued Sept. 13, covering Sept. 13-20
As we work our way slowly into fall, we are starting to see a more fall-like pattern beginning to develop — especially when it comes to overnight lows. While the upcoming forecast does not look like we see a big fall cooldown, there is more and more deviation developing between different runs of the forecast […] Read more