CBOT March 2023 oats with 20- and 50-day moving averages. (Barchart)

Feed weekly outlook: Wheat, barley eschewed for other grains

Oats, corn finding demand as feed

MarketsFarm — Feed wheat and barley prices in Alberta’s feedlot alley are coming down, largely due to the increasing presence of corn imported from the U.S. The high-delivered bid for Alberta feed barley on Wednesday was $9.80 per bushel, 11 cents lower than the previous week and 22 cents lower than one month earlier, according […] Read more

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

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures firm despite softer cash cattle

Hog futures down as exports disappoint

Chicago | Reuters — Feeder cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange climbed on Thursday, supported by sluggish corn futures, while live cattle gains were muted as meatpackers offered lower cash cattle prices this week, traders said. “They’ve backed off a bit in the cash market,” said Doug Houghton, technical analyst at Brock Capital Management. […] Read more


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

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle ease on seasonal retail softness

February hogs lower despite export optimism

Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange dipped on Wednesday, as easing post-holiday retail demand, combined with strong cash cattle prices, eats into processor profitability. “This week specifically is when we transition to buying for a lower-demand period, post-holidays,” said Rich Nelson, chief strategist at Allendale Inc. “Packer margins are […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder cattle market experiences diverse price behaviour

Manitoba calves hold a premium over Sask., Alta.

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded steady to $2 higher while calf prices were unchanged to $4 lower. Yearling supplies are limited and there appeared to be a surge of buying interest for 850-lb. thin-fleshed replacements. Alberta fed cattle basis levels for the second quarter of 2023 have above average and the […] Read more


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

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle fall on wholesale beef weakness

Feeder cattle, February hogs also lower

Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange slid on Tuesday, pressured by falling wholesale beef prices. “We had a really disappointing box beef value fall off to start the week yesterday, and a little follow through today,” said Matthew Wiegand, risk management consultant at FuturesOne. Most retailers have completed purchases […] Read more

CME January 2023 feeder cattle (candlesticks, right column) with CBOT March 2023 corn (orange line, left column). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME feeder cattle firm as corn inputs slide

Live cattle climb higher in deferred months; February hogs also up

Chicago | Reuters — Feeder cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange firmed for the fifth consecutive session, as corn, a significant input for producers, continues to fall, traders said. “The feeders have sort of been hobbled for a long time because of the elevated feed price,” said Dennis Smith, livestock analyst and broker at […] Read more


While the fed cattle market has held value, the feeder market has come under pressure.

Prairie feeder outlook bullish in the long term

Market Update with Jerry Klassen: Prices are encouraging many Canadian producers to keep replacement heifers

During the first half of October, Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $300-$305 delivered. Using a 60 per cent grading, this would equate to $180-$183/cwt on a live basis. For March and April delivery, Alberta packers have been forward contracting in the range of $345-$350 cwt on […] Read more

Reg Schellenberg. (Schellenberg family photo via Canadian Cattlemen)

Canadian Cattle Association president Reg Schellenberg dies

Saskatchewan rancher had led CCA since March

Updated, Dec. 7 — Western Saskatchewan rancher Reg Schellenberg, who had led the national organization representing Canada’s beef cattle producers since March this year, died suddenly Friday at age 63. The Canadian Cattle Association reported Schellenberg’s death in a release Saturday, adding that the association’s current vice-president, rancher Nathan Phinney of Sackville, N.B., will now […] Read more


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

U.S. livestock: CME feeder, live cattle firm as trade eyes supplies

February lean hogs close higher

Chicago | Reuters — Feeder cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange firmed on Friday, supported by lower feed grain costs and resilient live cattle futures, traders said. “The market has held together well, so there’s optimism there. Then you’ve got the grain market down double digits today, and down the day before,” said Altin […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

StatCan data show smaller Canadian canola, durum production

Report also logs more barley, oats than previous estimates

MarketsFarm — Canadian farmers grew less canola and durum than originally thought in 2022, but more barley and oats, according to updated production estimates from Statistics Canada released Friday. “There were both bullish and bearish surprises,” MarketsFarm Pro analyst Mike Jubinville said. While canola production of 18.174 million tonnes was still up considerably from the […] Read more