(Thinkstock photo)

Prairie cash wheat: Weaker loonie underpins bids

U.S. wheat futures down on week

MarketsFarm — Spring wheat bids in Western Canada strengthened during the week ended Thursday, as sharp declines in the Canadian dollar boosted basis levels and more than made up for the bearish influence of softening U.S. futures. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS, 13.5 per cent protein) wheat prices were up by $4.10-$5.40 per tonne […] Read more



Photo: Canada Beef

Klassen: Steady demand underpins feeder cattle complex

Compared to last week, Alberta yearling markets traded $2-$4 on either side of unchanged; however, 800-pound-plus cattle in Manitoba and Saskatchewan appeared to trade $4-$6 higher. Yearling prices across the Prairies are now relatively even with no freight discounts from major southern Alberta markets. Calf markets are becoming more defined with larger volumes on offer. […] Read more

(Thinkstock photo)

Prairie cash wheat: External factors raise bids

U.S. wheat futures gain on the week

MarketsFarm — Despite the usual harvest pressures, western Canadian wheat bids jumped during the week ended Thursday, largely due to geopolitical and macroeconomic factors. The U.S. Federal Reserve on Wednesday again raised its key interest rate to combat rising inflation — this time a 75 basis point increase, to 3.25 per cent. The rate hike […] Read more


Wheat in progress west of Pathlow, Sask. on Aug. 1, 2022. (Dave Bedard photo)

Feed weekly outlook: Good grain yields seen in Saskatchewan, Manitoba

MarketsFarm — Despite delays in the ongoing barley and wheat harvests across the eastern Prairies, early indications have suggested healthy amounts of grain production. “Eastern Saskatchewan and Manitoba still have a bit of harvest to go, but generally the yields are good,” Glen Loyns, general manager of JGL Commodities at Moose Jaw, Sask., said. “Quality […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Weaker Canadian dollar supports feeder market

Weather optimal for bringing in fresh replacements

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearlings traded steady to $2 higher on average while calves traded $2 higher to $4 lower. The calf market was hard to define due to limited numbers while larger supplies of yearlings were on offer in Manitoba this past week. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed […] Read more


MGEX December 2022 spring wheat (candlesticks) with K.C. December 2022 hard red wheat (yellow line) and CBOT December 2022 soft red wheat (orange line). (Barchart)

Prairie cash wheat: Bids move higher

U.S. wheat futures gain on week

MarketsFarm — Spring wheat bids in Western Canada strengthened during the week ended Thursday, as gains in U.S. futures and weakness in the Canadian dollar provided support. The advances came despite seasonal harvest pressure and an upward revision to Statistics Canada’s production estimate for the country’s spring wheat crop. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS, […] Read more

(Scott Bauer photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Avian flu circles back in Western Canada

All western provinces book new cases in commercial birds

A relatively quiet summer for highly pathogenic avian influenza in Canada has turned for the worse, with outbreaks on commercial poultry farms in all four western provinces in the past week alone. Cases of high-path avian flu in domestic birds in Canada confirmed and reported by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency since Aug. 31 include: […] Read more


CME April 2023 live cattle (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

Klassen: April live cattle futures pull nearby cash feeder market higher

More feedlots switching back to barley

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded steady to $3 higher on average. Quality yearling packages of larger volume traded $2-$3 above week-ago levels. The calf market is becoming more defined. Larger calf volumes were on offer in Saskatchewan and Manitoba but smaller numbers were noted in Alberta. Therefore, we can’t accurately compare […] Read more

(Thinkstock photo)

Prairie cash wheat: Putin comments raise wheat bids

MarketsFarm — Comments from Russian President Vladimir Putin brought more uncertainty to Ukrainian wheat shipments, which in turn helped raise western Canadian wheat bids for the week ended Thursday. On Wednesday at an economic forum in the eastern Russian city of Vladivostok, Putin said the Ukrainians were “cheating,” adding that grain shipments from the country […] Read more