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

U.S. livestock: CME feeder cattle weaken as grain prices climb

Chicago lean hogs end mixed

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange feeder cattle futures declined on Friday as a spike in crop prices signaled higher costs for livestock feed, brokers said. Grain and soybean futures rallied at the Chicago Board of Trade on concerns that unfavourable heat and dryness in the U.S. Midwest will limit yields in the upcoming […] Read more

File photo of a sunrise over an Alberta barley crop. (MNphotography/iStock/Getty Images)

Feed weekly outlook: Barley harvest begins in Alberta

Prices continue easing

MarketsFarm — The barley harvest has already started in Alberta and prices continue to ease downward, according to one trader. “Around Lethbridge, they seem to have a good portion done,” said Erin Harakal, trade manager for Agfinity Inc. at Stony Plain, Alta. “Some areas in the north are starting, as well. The Edmonton area, Red […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

Greater crop production estimated prior to StatCan report

Extended time lag between survey, data's release criticized

MarketsFarm — Analysts are expecting Canadian crop production totals for the 2022-23 marketing year to be substantially higher compared to drought-stricken 2021-22, but still not enough to fully replenish supplies. Statistics Canada (StatCan) will publish its first satellite image model-based yield and production estimates for principal field crops on Monday. Traders and analysts are interested […] Read more

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

U.S. grains: Soybeans, wheat, corn fall as traders book profits

Dispatches from crop tour limit day's losses

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade soybeans, wheat and corn futures fell on Thursday on a profit-taking setback after rallying earlier in the week, traders said. “We are just running into a bit of technical resistance across the board,” said Dan O’Bryan, a risk management specialist and broker at Top Third StoneX. “You […] Read more


CME October 2022 lean hogs (candlesticks) with 200-day moving average (black line) and Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog futures up off lowest since February

Chicago cattle futures mixed

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures on Thursday edged up from a 6-1/2-month low on a round of short-covering after posting losses in four of the previous five sessions, traders said. But the hog market remained under pressure from a seasonal slowdown in demand as the grilling season nears its end. Cattle […] Read more



CME October 2022 lean hogs (candlesticks) with 100-day moving average (black line) and Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hogs hit 6-1/2-month low on slowing demand

Live cattle dip below 20-day moving average

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures fell to a 6-1/2-month low on Wednesday with demand for pork fading as the traditional U.S. grilling season nears its close. Cattle futures were mixed, with live cattle contracts sagging on weakness in the cash markets while feeder cattle contracts closed higher. Hog futures have fallen […] Read more

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

U.S. grains: Corn firms for sixth session in a row

Soybeans weak, wheat strong

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures steadied after hitting their highest in nearly two months on Wednesday, underpinned by concerns that hot and dry weather in the Midwest during key crop development periods limited how big the fall harvest will be, traders said. Wheat futures were strong, notching their fourth straight day of gains, […] Read more


ICE November 2022 canola (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2) and 100-day moving average (green line). (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: Time gap too large in StatCan report

Canola's potential yields shrank in meantime

MarketsFarm — There has been about a one-month gap in between Statistics Canada having gathered its data for next week’s principal crops report and actually releasing the report. That’s something trader Ken Ball of PI Financial in Winnipeg finds irksome. “They’re using computer models of some kind. You would think they could get this out […] Read more