Canada warns VCOOL would sabotage shared Canada-U.S. goals, supply chains

Canada warns VCOOL would sabotage shared Canada-U.S. goals, supply chains

The Canadian government has submitted its views on proposed U.S. food labelling rules

Proposed U.S. country of origin labelling rules run contrary to mutual Canada and U.S. goals to reduce inflation, improve food security and build resilient supply chains, according to a submission from the Canadian government to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “One of the great strengths of the U.S.-Canada bilateral relationship is the successful integration of […] Read more



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

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle up as beef prices climb

Chicago lean hogs close mixed

Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange rose on Friday ahead of a long U.S. holiday weekend, supported by strong beef prices and profitable margins for beef packers, traders said. CME’s benchmark August live cattle contract settled up 0.65 cent at 171.725 cents/lb. (all figures US$). The U.S. Department of […] Read more

CME August 2023 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle inch higher in technical bounce

Chicago lean hogs end mixed

Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange closed modestly higher on Thursday on rising wholesale beef prices and a technical bounce after the benchmark August contract dipped to a two-week low. The cattle market has been consolidating after a surge to contract highs on June 7 triggered several days of […] Read more


File photo of storm clouds over northeastern Alberta. (ImagineGolf/E+/Getty Images)

Prairie Forecast: Alberta low looks to dominate

Forecast issued June 14, covering June 14-21

So far, the weather models have been doing a good job with the medium-range forecasts, only falling off late in the forecast period. Of course, in the summer, short-range forecasts can be difficult, especially when it comes to just when and where thunderstorms will develop. I always find it interesting that a forecast could be […] Read more

CME August 2023 live cattle with 10-, 20- and 50-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle fall on technical selling

Wholesale pork prices lift hogs

Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange fell on Wednesday on chart-based selling and expectations of a seasonal slowdown in beef demand in the coming weeks, traders said. CME benchmark August live cattle futures settled down 2.95 cents at 170.975 cents/lb., with technical selling accelerating as the contract dropped below […] Read more


CME August 2023 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle end up as beef prices rise

Chicago lean hog futures end mixed

Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange closed higher on Tuesday, rallying from early declines, as strong beef prices and tight cattle supplies buoyed futures, traders said. CME August live cattle futures settled up 0.725 cent at 173.925 cents/lb. (all figures US$). August feeder cattle finished up 1.4 cents at […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder cattle under 500 lbs. jump over $400

U.S. beef output expected down in 2024

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices for 800-lb.-plus cattle traded $8-$10/cwt higher. Feeder cattle in the range of 600-800 lbs. were up $6-$8/cwt on average. Calves weighing 500-600 lbs. were unchanged to $10 higher, although supplies were limited. Feather-light calves under 500 lbs. traded $10 to as much as $30 over week-ago levels. […] Read more


Smoke billows upwards from the Donnie Creek wildfire south of Fort Nelson, B.C. n June 11, 2023. (Photo: B.C. Wildfire Service handout via Reuters)

Western Canada covered in smoke as wildfires loosen grip on Quebec

Over 200 of 449 wildfires now out of control

Ottawa | Reuters — Smoke shrouded Western Canada on Monday as wildfires flared again in the main oil-producing province of Alberta, while firefighters in Quebec doused some of the worst early-season blazes, allowing thousands of evacuees to return home. Canada is enduring its most destructive start to wildfire season, with about 4.8 million hectares — […] Read more

AAFC’s Drought Monitor map as of May 31, 2023.

Drought expands across Canadian Prairies

Dry conditions push eastward in Manitoba

MarketsFarm — Warm and dry conditions across much of the Prairies in May caused drought conditions to worsen, especially in Alberta, according to the latest Drought Monitor report from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. As of May 31, an estimated 79 per cent of the Prairie region was classified as abnormally dry (D0) or in moderate […] Read more