The nitrate level in a sample of this grass regrowth were somewhat elevated and there was always a risk there could be some “real hot spots” in other parts of the 40 acre field.

Play it safe with high nitrates

Proper management of drought-affected forages can reduce the risk to livestock

This year’s drought taught me many lessons about the dangers of high nitrates in beef cow forage. That is why I recommend that all cow-calf producers test all their harvested forages for nitrates, whatever field it came from. It’s going to be money well spent, whether tests are negative or positive. And if they are […] Read more

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

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures up for third straight day

December, February hogs lower

Chicago | Reuters — CME Group cattle futures rose for a third day in a row on Friday, with the front-month live cattle contract hitting a fresh 4-1/2-year high on strong cash markets and rising slaughter numbers. Hog futures were weaker on technical selling. CME’s most-active February live cattle contract gained 0.45 cent to 137.7 […] Read more


Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau (second from left) and Nate Horner (right), her Alberta counterpart, during a tour of Olds College’s Smart Farm on Thursday. (Photo: Olds College/Sergei Belski, www.oldscollege.ca)

Alberta looks for feed, Ottawa promises cash for B.C.

Alberta to help with veterinary testing after B.C.'s lab flooded, Alberta ag minister says

Even though supplies are low because of drought, Alberta is looking for feed to send to B.C. livestock producers, while Ottawa will provide emergency financial assistance to farmers dealing with flooding and closed roads in the hard-hit province. “We’ve been working with the B.C. department of agriculture,” Alberta Agriculture Minister Nate Horner said during a […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cash, export markets lift CME live cattle

December hogs lower, February up

Chicago | Reuters — CME Group cattle futures rose on Thursday, with the front-month live cattle contract hitting its highest since June 2017 on support from strength in the cash markets. Rising overseas demand also lent support cattle futures after the U.S. Agriculture Department said that weekly beef export sales totaled 30,000 tonnes, the most […] Read more





(WPohlDesign/iStock/Getty Images)

Klassen: Feeder market continues downward slide

Prairies' snowstorm leads to risk discount

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were steady to $2 lower; calves traded $2-$4 below week-ago levels. Saskatchewan and Manitoba experienced their first major snowstorm of the season last week. The market tends to incorporate a risk discount for adverse weather as buyers factor in higher death loss. Also, major feedlot operators believe […] Read more

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

U.S. livestock: CME cattle firm, cash cattle supportive

Heavier slaughters weigh on hog futures

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures firmed on Monday, supported by tighter supplies of market-ready cattle that propped up cash prices last week, traders said. “In theory, the feedlots have a little more leverage, because there’s fewer cattle available for the packer to buy,” said Alan Brugler, president of Brugler Marketing. […] Read more


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

U.S. livestock: CME cattle futures mostly lower as corn climbs

Technical buying supports lean hogs

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed mostly lower on Friday, pressured by rising corn prices that depressed feeder cattle futures, traders said. But firmer cash cattle prices this week underpinned the market. CME January feeder cattle futures fell 1.35 cents to end at 157.725 cents/lb., sagging as Chicago Board of […] Read more