The Canadian calf crop has been relatively flat in the past three years and we’re not likely going to see much of a change for 2021.

Where are we in the cattle cycle?

Market Talk with Jerry Klassen

I’ve received many calls from cow-calf producers inquiring about the U.S. and cattle cycle. The recent droughts in the U.S. and Western Canada have resulted in a year-over-year increase in the cow slaughter. Many producers in Canada and the U.S. have liquidated a portion of their herds due to limited feed supply. At the same […] Read more

Photo: daoleduc/iStock/Getty Images Plus

Canada economy seen weaker than expected as supply chain woes weigh

Ottawa | Reuters – The Canadian economy most likely underperformed expectations in the third quarter amid ongoing supply chain woes and a brutal drought, official data suggested on Friday, prompting analysts to forecast the Bank of Canada could move slower on rate hikes. The economy expanded by 0.4 percent in August, missing estimates, and looked […] Read more


Canola regrowth blooming in Manitoba’s Interlake in late September. Beware high nitrates and other issues when grazing canola regrowth and consider using an electric fence to control intake.

Timing key when managing high-nitrate feeds

News Roundup from the October 2021 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

You’ve tested your feed and you’ve got some high-nitrate crop in the field or the feedyard. What exactly are the risks to your cattle and what can you do to manage them?  High nitrate levels can affect reproduction, and this time of year is especially risky for herds calving in May or June, says Barry […] Read more

Sea surface temperature anomalies over the Pacific Ocean in degrees Celsius for the week centred on Oct. 13, 2021. (CPC.ncep.noaa.gov)

Another La Nina winter predicted

Polar vortex to chill Prairies, more snow further east, AccuWeather says

Data compiled by a U.S. federal weather forecasting agency show La Nina conditions have developed over the central Pacific Ocean and are likely to linger through February. And La Nina, in turn, is expected to produce hard cold snaps over the Prairies, above-normal precipitation over southern British Columbia and relatively mild temperatures with more snow […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

Canada’s small, high-protein malt barley crop poses challenges

MarketsFarm — The hot and dry 2021 growing season cut significantly into Canada’s barley production, with the weather also leading to higher protein levels for what was harvested. “It will be an extremely tight and difficult year for the malt processors and ultimately for the brewers as well,” said Peter Watts, managing director of the […] Read more



Yellow peas. (Victoria Popova/iStock/Getty Images)

Pulse weekly outlook: Yellow peas selling at a premium

Local fractionation markets competitive

MarketsFarm –– Last summer’s lacklustre pea harvest in Western Canada has helped raise prices, but none more so than those of yellow peas. Yellow peas were trading at a high-delivered bid of $17.50 per bushel, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire data from Monday, up $1.50 from the same time last month and $9.50 from the […] Read more

An eastward-facing view from the north edge of the crossing at Mile 98.14 of CN’s Ashcroft subdivision, where BCWS suspected the Lytton fire began. (TSB photo)

No evidence trains sparked Lytton fire, TSB says

Transportation Safety Board now stepping out of ongoing fire probe

There’s no proof the fire that largely destroyed a British Columbia village, damaged a key rail bridge and led to cuts in rail speed limits in high-risk areas was sparked by train traffic, the federal Transportation Safety Board says. The TSB on Thursday said its investigation, launched in early July, “has not revealed any evidence […] Read more


(Andreus/iStock/Getty Images)

Hay-starved Prairies fertile ground for online scammers

At least $64,000 lost in Alberta alone, RCMP says

High demand, scarce supplies and rising prices for hay and other feeds due to this summer’s drought on the Prairies have made a market for online scammers, RCMP warn. The urgency driving such transactions may cause ranchers, farmers and farm workers to make purchases “without taking time to properly verify or research production sources,” Alberta […] Read more

Drought and searing heat have had a severe impact on feed crops such as corn, wheat and soybeans.

Drought rears its ugly head

Prime Cuts with Steve Kay

BSE cases and E.Coli O 157:H7 recalls have roiled the North American beef industry over the past 25 years. But neither have had more of a long-running impact on the industry as drought. Severe to extreme drought conditions have now returned to much of the western half of the continent and are having an impact […] Read more