Vitti: Figure out proper rations for replacement dairy heifers

Vitti: Figure out proper rations for replacement dairy heifers

They need to keep growing, but you don’t want them too fat either

Many dairy heifer replacements come out of the calf barn in good shape. That’s because many were fed milk and calf-starter diets that supported exceptional growth. Ironically, some of these heifers are not fed well after weaning, and this nutrition gap makes them struggle throughout their first lactation. Such adverse nutrition can largely be avoided […] Read more

CBOT March 2022 corn (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, orange and dark green lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn futures near six-month high

South America weather threats support U.S. soy, corn

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade corn futures neared a six-month high and soybean futures topped a four-month high on Thursday on concerns about unfavorable dryness and heat threatening South American crops, analysts said. Rain is not expected to bring much relief to southern Brazil, the world’s top soybean exporter, and Argentina in […] Read more



CBOT March 2022 soybeans (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, dark green and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soy, corn futures extend rally

South American weather woes remain 'concerning'

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade soybean and corn futures extended a rally to new multi-month peaks on Wednesday as dry weather in some South American growing belts stoked supply concerns. Wheat futures rose for a fifth straight session, tracking corn and soy while also drawing support from brisk global demand and Ukraine […] Read more


CBOT May 2022 corn (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

CBOT weekly outlook: Corn up, but highs may not last

MarketsFarm — Corn, wheat and soybeans were all trading on a positive note at the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) just days before the winter holidays. According to Scott Capinegro, a broker for Barrington Commodity Brokers at Lake Barrington, Ill., a greater appetite for risk by investors and inclement weather have both supported the markets. […] Read more

CBOT March 2022 corn (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, orange and dark green lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn, soybeans hit summertime-level highs

Dryness in Brazil and Argentina in view for soy and corn; investors show renewed appetite for risk, traders say

Chicago | Reuters — Unfavourable dryness in crop-growing areas of South America on Tuesday pushed Chicago Board of Trade corn futures to their highest price since July and soybeans to an August high, analysts said. Wheat futures also rallied. South American weather was in the spotlight amid concerns about dry weather in southern Brazil, the […] Read more


Drought conditions affect usual mineral recommendations

Drought conditions affect usual mineral recommendations

Formulations need to be tweaked to meet needs of gestating cows

Mineral (and vitamin) feeding programs for overwintering beef cows have remained pretty much the same, year after year on the Prairies. However, standard recommendations are likely to change this winter. Better mineral (and vitamin) choices should be fed this year in the wake of last summer’s severe drought. Dry conditions compromised good mineral/vitamin status of […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

AAFC adjusts grain, oilseed balance sheets slightly

MarketsFarm –– Updated supply and demand tables from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), released late Friday, included only minor adjustments to balance sheets for the country’s major crops. The department’s projected ending stocks for wheat and canola were left unchanged from the previous month. Factoring in the official estimates from Statistics Canada, released Dec. 3, […] Read more


CBOT March 2022 wheat (candlesticks) with K.C. March 2022 wheat (yellow O/H/L/C). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Winter wheat futures rise on demand, crop woes

CBOT soybeans up, corn down

Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. winter wheat futures rose on Monday on global demand and concerns about poor crop weather in America’s Plains region, while concerns about unfavourable dryness in parts of South America helped lift U.S. soy futures, analysts said. Traders focused on weather conditions after crop observers in Kansas said hurricane-force winds that […] Read more

CBOT January 2022 soybeans (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, dark green and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soy, corn set multi-month highs

South American crop uncertainty, chart-based buying are factors

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures closed higher on Friday, hitting a 2-1/2 month top on worries about South American crop weather coupled with chart-based buying, traders said. Corn futures set a four-month high near $6 a bushel and wheat followed the firm trend (all figures US$). Chicago Board of Trade January soybeans settled […] Read more