CME February 2023 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog futures up off lowest since December 2021

Cattle futures down with cash markets

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. hog futures rose on Thursday as strength in cash markets and rising export demand sparked a round of bargain buying after prices hit their lowest in more than a year. But weakness in the cash markets weighed on cattle futures. The U.S. Agriculture Department said on Thursday morning that export […] Read more


File photo of a cow grazing near Leader, Sask., about 85 km south of Kindersley. (James_Gabbert/iStock/Getty Images)

Saskatchewan holds Crown grazing rents at last year’s levels

Also, leaseholders on drought-downgraded land eligible for rate cut

Cattle producers leasing Crown land for grazing in Saskatchewan won’t see a rate hike this year and may be eligible for a significant rate cut. The provincial government announced Wednesday it has frozen the rates charged to producers who lease Crown grazing land in 2023 at their 2022 level. The freeze will apply to all […] Read more

CME February 2023 lean hogs with 20- and 50-day moving averages and CME cash lean hog index (black line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog futures hit lowest since late 2021

Ballooning supplies an issue; cattle futures mixed

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures fell to their lowest in more than a year on Wednesday, with plentiful supplies and weak export demand weighing on prices, traders said. Cattle futures were mixed, with nearby contracts easing while deferred contracts firmed on concerns about low animal weight. February lean hog futures ended […] Read more


Alumni of Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers program Ian (left) and Karilynn (middle) Marshall of Bowden, Alta., receive the W.R. Motherwell Award from COYF president, Danny Penner (right), at the COYF national award ceremony in November.

Outstanding Young Farmers Awards go to Saskatchewan and Quebec

Organic farming receives national recognition

Cody Straza and Allison Squires say developing an organic mixed farming operation in southern Saskatchewan over the past dozen years was a reflection of their values in terms of creating a sustainable farm operation guided by proper environmental stewardship and social justice principles. Winning a national award recognizing excellence in farm management gave them reassurance […] Read more

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

U.S. livestock: CME cattle futures firm even as feed prices weigh

Lean hogs end lower, pork packing margins up

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange livestock futures were mixed on Tuesday as soybean and grain prices firmed, traders said. Live cattle and feeder futures were able to continue Monday’s price bump. But the higher feed prices weighed on the beef market, as did questions over consumer and export demand, StoneX chief commodities economist […] Read more


Once the calf is in position, begin pulling slowly. This gives the cervix time to fully dilate as buttocks and hips start through. Traction should be applied on one hind leg at a time until its stifle has been drawn over the brim of the cow’s pelvis.

Important tips on birthing backward calves

You need to confirm their actual position before you start pulling

Most calves are born head first, front feet extended, but a few are positioned backward and may not survive unless you are there to help with delivery. The backward calf usually suffocates because his head is still inside the cow when his umbilical cord breaks or pinches off as his midsection comes through the cow’s […] Read more

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

U.S. livestock: CME cattle firm on bargain buying, grain values

Chicago lean hogs end day lower

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures firmed on Monday amid a spate of bargain buying after a recent slump in prices helped mute market impact of the bearish results of the latest Cattle on Feed report from the U.S. Agriculture Department, traders said. Cattle futures also were boosted by a sharp drop […] Read more


The U.S. beef cow slaughter is projected to reach up to 3.900 million head, up from 2021.

Cow-calf producers have opportunity for expansion

Calf prices expected to remain strong for at least two years, and perhaps three

Throughout the fall, I received many inquiries from cow-calf producers regarding herd expansion. During the latter half of November, good bred cows and higher-quality bred heifers were trading in the range of $1,800-$2,200 in central and southern Alberta. Younger cow-calf pairs were selling in the range of $1,600-$2,100 in the same regions. With current prices […] Read more

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

U.S. livestock: CME cattle end higher, rebounding ahead of USDA data

Hogs up after several days' slide

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures firmed on Friday on bargain buying a day after setting one-month lows, and as traders squared positions ahead of monthly feedlot data released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture after the close of trading. CME February live cattle settled up 0.675 cent at 156.625 cents/lb., […] Read more