CME April 2023 live cattle (candlesticks, right column) with CME April 2022 feeder cattle (dark red line, left column). (Barchart)

Klassen: Deferred live cattle futures underpin feeder cattle prices

Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $2-$4 on either side of unchanged. Major feedlot operations in Alberta continue to carry large numbers of market-ready cattle. The backlog of fed cattle appears to be worse than earlier anticipated. Yearlings were featured at auction barns in the main feeding regions of Alberta. Feedlot […] Read more


(Thinkstock photo)

Prairie cash wheat: Bids rise in choppy activity

U.S. wheat futures up on week overall

MarketsFarm — Spring wheat bids across Western Canada moved higher during the week ended Thursday, although the uncertain situation in Ukraine saw some wide price swings in U.S. wheat futures. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS, 13.5 per cent protein) wheat prices were up by $11.30-$16.30 per tonne, according to price quotes from a cross-section […] Read more



File photo of Highway 363 near Moose Jaw, Sask. (Mysticenergy/iStock/Getty Images)

Spring road bans coming into effect across Prairies

MarketsFarm — Warming temperatures and melting snow across Western Canada may cause some disruptions to grain and livestock movement over the next few weeks as seasonal spring road restrictions come into effect across the Prairies. Annual spring road restrictions set axle weight limits for vehicles moving on certain roads, in an effort to reduce the […] Read more

Drought conditions in Canada at Feb. 28, 2022. (Map courtesy Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)

Most of Prairies still very dry, but recovery possible

Southern Manitoba considered out of drought

MarketsFarm — Despite the Prairies receiving above-normal amounts of precipitation during February, the great majority of the region remained highly vulnerable to more dryness going into spring, according to the Canadian Drought Monitor. The monitor’s latest report showed those areas of the Prairies tackling extreme drought to have retracted somewhat. As of Feb. 28, that […] Read more


Fall rye flowering in south-central Manitoba. (Allan Dawson photo)

Rye in strong position going into 2022

MarketsFarm — Last summer’s drought sharply reduced yields of many crops across the Prairies, leaving multiple supply challenges and rising prices in the aftermath. Western Canadian rye, however, was largely left unscathed, which may bode well for the crop heading into 2022. Rye production came in at 473,000 tonnes for 2021-22, according to Statistics Canada […] Read more

Photo: File

Klassen: Surge in feed grain prices shocks feeder cattle market

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $3-$5 lower on average. Feeder cattle weighing 650 to 800 lbs. were relatively unchanged to $3 lower. Calves under 650 lbs. were steady to $4-$6 lower in Alberta, unchanged in Saskatchewan and $3-$5 higher in Manitoba. Fleshier yearlings and calves were heavily discounted last week with […] Read more


(Thinkstock photo)

Prairie cash wheat: Russia-Ukraine conflict fuels price rallies

U.S. wheat futures way up on week

MarketsFarm — Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine has not only sparked a conflict between two of the world’s major wheat exporters, but also limit-up price rallies for wheat futures during the week ended Thursday. As sanctions grow against Russia, as well as uncertainty over access to Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea, fears of a […] Read more