We all need to be the voice of reason and take the emotional arguments out of these discussions especially when it involves those who don’t know the vaccine science issues. – Roy Lewis.

Producers need to be the voice of reason for vaccines

Roy Lewis: Animal health products are not intended for humans

In my view, cattle producers can be the voice of reason when it comes to helping the non-rural population understand the decisions about vaccine efficacy, safety, and adverse reactions the rare time it happens in their own cattle. All the discussions and debate about COVID vaccinations revolve around a few questions — whether to vaccinate, […] Read more

CME October 2021 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, dark red and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle, feeder cattle extend gains

December hogs touch one-week low

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange feeder cattle and live cattle futures rose on Tuesday amid technical buying, while lean hog futures finished mixed. Both cattle markets have been due to rebound after recent selloffs dragged prices too low at a time when demand is solid, brokers said. Live cattle futures topped a one-week […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder market continues consolidation

U.S. corn northbound into Prairies

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were relatively unchanged while calf markets were down $2-$3 on average. Feedlot inventories in Alberta and Saskatchewan are 30 per cent above the five-year average; therefore, demand is lacking moving into the main marketing period for calves. Finishing feedlots have sufficient ownership and being fairly finicky on […] Read more

CME December 2021 live cattle (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME cattle futures touch one-week highs

Chicago lean hogs retreat

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures hit one-week highs on Monday on technical buying and short covering, while lean hog futures tumbled, traders said. The gains in cattle came after the market sank to a four-month low on Friday. “This market is technically very oversold,” said Brian Hoops, president of broker […] Read more


CME December 2021 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, dark red and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME cattle futures extend slump

Hogs mixed after strong week

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) live cattle futures closed lower on Friday, extending their slide for a sixth session on lacklustre cash cattle trade and falling wholesale beef prices, traders said. CME October live cattle futures settled down 0.175 cent on Friday at 120.4 cents/lb. while the benchmark December contract fell 0.525 […] Read more

Curled leaves on corn plants due to drought cause it look a bit like the spears of a pineapple crop, resulting in what some call pineapple corn.

Balance “pineapple” corn silage into dairy diets

Corn with rolled leaves should definitely be tested for nitrates

I never noticed a “pineapple” cornfield until I ‘ve seen several of them in Manitoba this summer. As I have done, dairy producers should take them in stride as part of our ongoing drought.  A pineapple cornfield is simply what happens to a corn plant after months of severe drought. (It is a term used […] Read more


CME December 2021 lean hogs (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, brown and dark red lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME hog futures rise on sustained buying

Interest tied to bullish USDA report; cattle futures continue lower

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) lean hog futures closed higher on Thursday on continued buying interest tied to the recent bullish quarterly hog report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), traders said. CME October lean hogs settled up 0.8 cent at 91.6 cents/lb., while the most-active December contract rose 1.8 cents […] Read more



CME October 2021 lean hogs (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, dark red and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME hog futures pause after rally

Cattle futures end lower

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) lean hog futures closed mixed on Wednesday as the market paused following a surge tied to last week’s bullish quarterly hog report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), traders said. CME October lean hogs settled down 0.875 cent at 90.8 cents/lb. while the most-active December contract […] Read more

File photo of hogs on a farm in the Dominican Republic. (RD-SunPhotography/iStock/Getty Images)

U.S. puts up funds to prevent African swine fever

Haiti, Dominican Republic now 'countries of concern' on CFIA list

Chicago | Reuters — The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Wednesday pledged up to US$500 million to prevent the spread of the fatal pig virus African swine fever, after Haiti and the Dominican Republic recently confirmed outbreaks. A U.S. outbreak would likely slash U.S. pork exports and pig prices, hurting farmers and meat companies such […] Read more