CME October 2023 live cattle with 20-day moving average (pink line, right index) and CME October 2023 feeder cattle (dark red line, left index). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle up on cash optimism, heat risk

Lean hogs also up on strong pork prices

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures firmed on Thursday, supported by concerns about heat stress in the U.S. Plains, as well as optimism in the cash cattle market, analysts said. “The cash outlook seems pretty firm,” said Doug Houghton, technical analyst at Brock Capital Management. ” I think there’s some support […] Read more

Retail beef prices continue to hold value near historical highs while restaurant spending has exceeded expectations.

U.S. cattle herd continues to contract

Market Update with Jerry Klassen: Expect one more year of high calf prices before expansion begins

Alberta fed cattle prices softened in July due to an increase in market-ready supplies and weaker wholesale beef prices. During the first week of August, Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in southern Alberta at $235/cwt fob the feedlot. This is down from the mid-June record high of $246/cwt. At the same time, wholesale choice […] Read more


Photo: ARS/USDA

U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs dip as seasonal pressures mount

Live cattle futures eased slightly as cash trade remains light

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures fell for a third session on Wednesday, as seasonal pressure mixed with weaker pork prices, analysts said. “This time of year for October hogs, it’s tough to know which direction to go in,” said Joe Kooima, commodity broker at Kooima Kooima Varilek Trading Inc, noting […] Read more

“There’s even a question of would harvest equipment be available for 2023. There will be some equipment available, but will it be what you want and [what] fits your needs?” – Bill Campbell, Keystone Agricultural Producers.  Photo: iStock/Getty Images

Manitoba crop report: dry week helps advance harvest

Cattle producers move herds to hay fields to graze regrowth

MarketsFarm – Dry conditions across crop-growing areas in Manitoba helped the province’s annual harvest get off to a good start during the week ended Aug. 20. Much of the eastern, southern and central regions received two millimetres of precipitation at most during the week with several locations receiving no rainfall at all. The northwest region […] Read more


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

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle ease, heat impacts in focus

Seasonal hog supplies pressure futures

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures eased on Tuesday after two sessions higher, as traders watch to see the impact of sweltering temperatures on slaughter-ready cattle, analysts said. “The heat does hurt the weights. That’s been an issue for a lot of the south, for a lot of the summer,” said […] Read more



“On some of our hay land, they ate the alfalfa down to where it’s gone completely.” Shawn Kramer.

Prairie pest offers ‘a tough battle’

Strychnine may no longer be an option for swelling ground squirrel populations, but other effective tactics are available

Richardson’s ground squirrels, which are sometimes referred to as gophers, can cause major problems for farmers and ranchers. In high enough numbers, they can decimate crops and forages and pockmark pasture land, making it hazardous for livestock. Persistent drought conditions have contributed to high ground squirrel populations in some parts of the Prairies in recent […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Subway reportedly nears sale to Arby’s owner

Chain's parent firm considering sale since February

Reuters — Roark Capital, which owns restaurant chains Arby’s and Buffalo Wild Wings, is nearing a deal to buy sandwich chain Subway for about US$9.6 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday. A deal could be finalized this week, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter. “Subway does not intend to make any […] Read more


(Geralyn Wichers photo)

Klassen: Feedlots aggressively secure ownership

StatCan cattle inventory report due out soon

Compared to last week, yearlings straight off grass sold $3-$5 higher on average. In certain cases, larger groups of higher quality genetics traded $8-$12 above week-ago levels. Auction markets had larger volumes this past week and there was strong demand across all weight categories. It’s that time of year when major operations are stepping forward […] Read more

Saskatchewan front-loads AgriRecovery funding

Saskatchewan front-loads AgriRecovery funding

Joint federal-provincial program development still underway

The Saskatchewan government says it will put up to $70 million toward “immediate measures” to support livestock producers, ahead of an expected federal-provincial AgriRecovery program for that purpose. Application forms are expected to be available via Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corp. (SCIC) “in the coming days” for funding “to help offset extraordinary costs of feeding livestock […] Read more