CME February 2022 lean hogs (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, dark red and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog futures touch highest since mid-October

CME cattle futures down on day

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures jumped to their highest in more than three months on Thursday, supported by strength in the cash markets, traders said. Most actively traded February lean hogs rose 2.625 cents, to 84.925 cents/lb. (all figures US$). The front-month contract closed just below its session peak of 84.975 […] Read more

Cow-calf producers don’t have to be just price takers. They can tap into marketing options that provide improved rates of return.

Who makes money in the beef industry?

Market Update with Jerry Klassen: The cow-calf producer does have options for increasing returns

Over the past year, I’ve received many inquiries from cow-calf producers regarding the margin structure for packing plants. Wholesale beef prices have been trading near historical highs, but this hasn’t translated into significantly higher feeder cattle prices. Cow-calf producers often believe they are at the bottom of the ladder when it comes to profitability throughout […] Read more



Galbi, a Korean dish made with beef short ribs. (JaysonPhotography/iStock/Getty Images)

South Korea lifts temporary suspension of Canadian beef

Reuters — South Korea is lifting its temporary suspension of Canadian beef imports that it imposed after Canada detected a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in December, federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said Wednesday. South Korea halted the shipments after Canada last month reported its first BSE case in six years. China and the […] Read more


(M+M Food Market video screengrab via YouTube)

On The Run operator to buy M+M Food Market

Parkland Corp. to pay $322M for frozen-food retailer

A well-known Canadian food retailer selling flash-frozen meals, entrees, side dishes and desserts direct to consumers is headed to expansion-minded new owners. Calgary-based Parkland Corp., which operates fuel and convenience retail chains and bulk fuel distribution businesses in Canada and elsewhere, announced Tuesday it’s signed an agreement to buy M+M Food Market for about $322 […] Read more

CME February 2022 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, brown and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME cattle futures weak

Hog futures firm

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures fell on Tuesday, with mild profit-taking noted after rallying in three of the previous four sessions. Hog futures were firmer, extending their rebound from the five-week low hit last week. Most actively traded February lean hogs rose 0.7 cent to 81.6 cents/lb. (all figures US$). […] Read more


Manitoba’s new ag minister Derek Johnson, whose constituency includes Diageo’s Crown Royal distillery at Gimli, congratulated the company on social media Monday for prizes earned at the Canadian Whisky Awards. Those included distillery of the year for Gimli, and Canadian whisky of the year for Crown Royal Nobel Collection Winter Wheat. (Facebook)

Manitoba names new ag minister in shuffle

Derek Johnson replaces Ralph Eichler

Another MLA from Manitoba’s Interlake region has been named to handle the province’s farm file in Premier Heather Stefanson’s latest cabinet shuffle and portfolio restructuring. Stefanson, who replaced Brian Pallister as premier in November, on Tuesday named Interlake-Gimli MLA Derek Johnson as minister of agriculture, replacing Lakeside MLA Ralph Eichler, who has been dropped from […] Read more



Ranchers milking cows to make ends meet

There are often stories I come across that fit into the category of “thank God we live in Canada.”  The following is a report from the Reuters news agency this week about the mess of the agriculture industry in at least part of  Venezuela. Inflation is raging at 686 per cent, people can’t afford food […] Read more

CME February 2022 lean hogs (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog futures rebound, slaughter pace still weak

CME February live cattle up

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures bounced back on Friday, though analysts said U.S. staffing shortages caused by COVID-19 infections continued to limit meat production. Most actively traded February lean hogs touched a one-week high and ended 3.05 cents stronger at 80.9 cents/lb. (all figures US$). The contract recovered after falling […] Read more