Corn west of Mitchell, Man. on Oct. 17, 2018. (Dave Bedard photo)

Feed weekly outlook: Corn imports pressure grain prices in Lethbridge

MarketsFarm — With harvesting operations winding down, high-delivered bids for feed barley and wheat in Alberta are higher compared to the same time last month and last year. However, there is still some volatility in feed grain prices, according to one Lethbridge-based trader. “I think most (of the increase) was (due to) demand, but as […] Read more



Barley. (Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Barley values steady, wheat rises

MarketsFarm — As the harvest across most of the Prairies begins to wind down, price movement for feed barley has remained fairly stable, according to Erin Harakal, senior trader for Agfinity at Stony Plain, Alta. “October is getting covered is what’s happening. There’s not too much room left for October,” Harakal said, noting the midway […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Prairie barley market still strong

Availability of trucks remains an issue

MarketsFarm — The feed barley market remains strong despite the influx of freshly harvested supplies, with little competition from other feed sources. “The markets have been coming up steadily, with what feels like no harvest pressure,” said Suzanne Leclerc, owner of Market Master Ltd. in Edmonton. “People were hoping the market would get lower and […] Read more


Aside from the potential for lower feed prices, this year’s abundant hay and silage yields will make life easier for both cow-calf and feedlot operators.

What a difference a year can make!

Nutrition with John McKinnon

From a feeding perspective, this fall looks to hold a great deal more promise than that of 2021. At the time of writing, slaughter prices are higher than a year ago and look good going into the fall. Feed availability is significantly greater than this time last year, particularly in Western Canada. Abundant feed supplies […] 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.)

Feed weekly outlook: Prairie grain bids see surprising harvest strength

MarketsFarm — Feed grain bids in Western Canada have shown some strength in recent weeks, despite the advancing harvest. “We’ve been seeing a rally through harvest, which is an odd thing,” grain merchant Jay Janzen of CorNine Commodities at Lacombe, Alta. said. He tied the unseasonable strength to solid demand and a lack of significant […] Read more

Barley. (Doug Wilson photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Feed weekly outlook: No effect seen on Alberta crops from hot, wet weather

Feed grain bids up on week in Alberta, Saskatchewan

MarketsFarm — Harvest activity in Alberta continues to progress despite wet weather during the past week, according to Mike Fleischhauer, trader for Eagle Commodities in Lethbridge. “We had some rain here about a week to 10 days ago. So, it puts some people in Alberta and Saskatchewan a little bit behind,” he said. “It’s been […] Read more


Photo: File

Feed weekly outlook: Grain prices start moving upward

New-crop barley already en route to feedlots

MarketsFarm — Hot temperatures and a lack of precipitation in recent days are helping Alberta growers make significant progress, according to Lethbridge-based Market Place Commodities’ president Jim Beusekom. “In southern Alberta, (the harvest) is doing just fine,” he said. “We had some rain last week. Some (had) more, some less. Last week limited how much […] Read more

CME October 2022 feeder cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, dark red and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME feeder cattle weaken as grain prices climb

Chicago lean hogs end mixed

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange feeder cattle futures declined on Friday as a spike in crop prices signaled higher costs for livestock feed, brokers said. Grain and soybean futures rallied at the Chicago Board of Trade on concerns that unfavourable heat and dryness in the U.S. Midwest will limit yields in the upcoming […] Read more