Barley market digesting many variables

Barley market digesting many variables

Market Talk with Jerry Klassen

I’ve received many inquiries from feedlot operators and cow-calf producers with regard to the price outlook for barley. During the 2017-18 crop year, the barley market was contending with lower production and a historically tight carry-out. The function of the market was to ration. Domestic prices were at a premium to export values to curb […] Read more



Photo: File

Early harvest pressures Prairie barley prices

CNS Canada — Barley prices in Western Canada are falling as an early harvest is weighing on values. “Prices have moderated here,” said Allen Pirness of Market Place Commodities Ltd. Lethbridge, Alta. The surprise rally from last week ended as quickly as it began. Prices which started last week at about C$250 per tonne were […] Read more


A barley field in France. (Anneke DeBlok/iStock/Getty Images)

France to the rescue as drought hits EU barley crop

Hamburg | Reuters — Drought has seriously damaged barley harvests in northern Europe, potentially tightening supplies of animal feed and malt for beer brewing, but a decent crop in France could save the day, experts said on Thursday. “There are painful crop losses in Germany, Poland, Britain and Scandinavia,” one German trader said. “The volume […] Read more




(Dave Bedard photo)

Canadian canola area likely above earlier projection

CNS Canada — Canadian farmers likely seeded more canola in 2018 than initial expectations, but industry participants generally expect to see only minor adjustments when Statistics Canada releases its latest acreage estimates on Friday. “Our idea is that the canola seeded area number is higher than initially reported,” said Jon Driedger of FarmLink Marketing Solutions. […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Stronger demand sustains feeder cattle market

Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were relatively unchanged from week-ago levels. Feeder cattle numbers are declining at this time of year, so those buyers looking to secure ownership had to be more aggressive. Higher-quality packages were available in Saskatchewan, which traded at a small premium to Alberta markets. In central and southern Alberta, there appeared […] Read more