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Klassen: Feeder market’s upward trend continues

Manitoba, Saskatchewan see limited gains

Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $2-$3/cwt higher on average. Southern Alberta appeared to lead Western Canada. Prices in the Lethbridge area were up $8/cwt to as much as $15/cwt from week-ago levels. Major operations have liquidated a significant amount fed cattle and become more current with production. There was a […] Read more


(Thinkstock photo)

Prairie cash wheat: Prices step back

U.S. wheat futures down on week

MarketsFarm — Wheat prices declined on the Canadian Prairies during the week ended Thursday, as a stronger Canadian dollar and losses in the U.S. wheat complex weighed on values. Pressure came from expanded all-wheat acres to be planted in the United States, 48.84 million expected in 2023 versus the 45.7 million planted in 2022. The […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Prices slip during quiet January

Shortages of trucks, drivers still trouble cattle sector

MarketsFarm — With January being a quiet time there’s isn’t a whole lot of direction for feed grains, according to Brandon Motz of CorNine Commodities at Lacombe, Alta. Prices for feed barley and wheat have been slowing slipping, he said — especially with feedlots not having to buy and farmers not needing to sell — […] Read more


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Klassen: Feeder market price discovery continues

Ontario buying interest leading Prairie market

In last week’s issue, we mentioned there was a large discrepancy in prices across Western Canada. Compared to the third week of December, prices in Manitoba were up $8/cwt to as much as $15/cwt, while Alberta markets were steady to $2/cwt higher. This past week, feeder prices in the eastern Prairie regions were relatively unchanged […] Read more

(Thinkstock photo)

Prairie cash wheat: Bids dip as loonie soars

Chicago, K.C. wheats down on week

MarketsFarm — Spring wheat bids in Western Canada moved lower during the week ended Thursday as a sharp gain in the Canadian dollar relative to its U.S. counterpart cut into basis levels. The currency was up by roughly a penny on the week, settling Thursday at its highest level in seven weeks at 74.75 U.S. […] Read more


File photo of Rabobank’s office building in Utrecht. (Rabobank.com)

Rabobank to offer Canadian farm-level lending

Dutch co-operative bank's Canadian arm to loan directly to farmers, starting on Prairies

Updated — A global financing firm operating at higher altitudes in Canada’s food and agrifood sector now plans to expand its business down to the farm and ranch level. The Canadian arm of Rabobank — an Amsterdam-based farmer co-operative lender, providing banking, leasing and real estate services in more than 38 countries — announced Tuesday […] Read more

CBOT March 2023 oats with 20- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

Oats face an uncertain year

Reduced acres expected in 2023

MarketsFarm — When comparing oat prices at the start of 2023 compared to one year ago, they appear to be night and day. Despite modest price increases over the past month, some western Canadian oat bids are less than half of what they were last year. In Alberta, the high-delivered bid for oats as of […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Corn imports still weigh on domestic feed market

MarketsFarm — Ample corn imports from the U.S. continue to keep the western Canadian feed grain market under pressure, with barley bids in Lethbridge trending lower through the early days of 2023. “We started the year with cash barley trading at roughly $450 (per tonne) in Lethbridge, it’s since declined to roughly $435,” said Jim […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder market looks upward

Quality of available cattle contributes to volatility

Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were quite variable. Compared to three weeks ago, Alberta prices were steady to $2/cwt higher while in Saskatchewan, prices were $8-$10/cwt higher on average with lighter-weight cattle jumping as much as $15. For example, in central Alberta, higher-quality 800-lb. steers were trading from $230 to $235 and 600-pounders were valued […] Read more