Glacier FarmMedia | MarketsFarm — Feed barley prices in Western Canada were holding relatively firm in mid-May, although seasonal price trends in the feed market typically see values start to come down in mid-June as the new crop harvest approaches.
Feed barley into Lethbridge, Alta., was priced at C$314 to C$320 per tonne as of May 16 according to the Alberta government’s weekly market review. That was steady on the week.
Meanwhile, delivered corn prices dipped by about C$2 per tonne, coming in at roughly C$311 per tonne into Lethbridge.
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Canadian imports of corn from the United States remain well off what was coming north a year ago, with only 140,800 tonnes imported as of May 15 during the marketing year that began at the start of September, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data. That compares with 925,500 tonnes at the same point a year ago. In addition, there are only 77,800 tonnes of outstanding U.S. corn sales to Canada, below the 129,600 tonnes on the books at the same time a year ago.
Meanwhile, Canadian barley exports are running in line with the year-ago pace, with 1.68 million tonnes exported as of May 11, according to weekly Canadian Grain Commission data.
Monthly Statistics Canada data through the end of March shows China as the top destination for Canadian barley, accounting for about 70 per cent of the total. Japan and the U.S. round out the top three.
Canadian barley stocks as of March 31 were estimated at 3.07 million tonnes by StatCan in a May 8 report, which was in line with the year-ago level.
Canadian farmers intend to plant 6.28 million acres of barley in 2025, which would be down two per cent on the year, according to StatCan. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada forecasts production at 8.08 million tonnes, which would be relatively unchanged from 2024 given average yields.
