Glacier FarmMedia | MarketsFarm — Feed barley and corn imported from the United States are currently trading at the same price into southern Alberta, said Lethbridge-based Darcy Haley, vice-president of Ag Value Brokers.
He said prices for corn and barley have risen C$5 to C$8 per tonne over the last few weeks, citing them for November-December at C$285/tonne delivered Lethbridge, with the January-February-March prices for both at C$290.
“The (U.S.) corn market has come up, but it’s stabilized right now,” Haley said, while noting there’s also been a change in the Alberta cattle industry.
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“We have a more traditional fall where calves are starting to move the last couple of weeks, he explained, noting last year, “the calf run was pretty much over by now.”
However, he said the feedlots are well covered and reluctant to acquire anymore feed at this time.
Meanwhile, with the declines in the Canadian dollar Haley suggested there could be an increase in barley exports. Should that lead to pricier barley he warned the switch back to corn in the cattle rations would be very quick.
As for feed wheat, Haley said business is scarce as it’s going for C$305 to C$310/tonne. The only orders are occasionally to poultry farms, hog producers and feed mills.
“The quality is too good, and the export market is competing very well with feed,” he explained.
