For the week ending August 17, Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were $3-$5 lower on average. Three weeks ago, 1,000 pound steers off grass reached up to $340/cwt. This past week, these same cattle were quoted in the range of $315-$325/cwt.
Tag Archives Alberta
Klassen: Yearling market softens on economic uncertainty
Combines making their rounds in Alberta
s the harvesting of fall crops in Alberta exceeded the halfway point, the combining of the province’s spring cereals was just beginning, according to the latest Alberta crop report.
Prairie forecast: Weak systems make for tricky forecast
Forecast issued Aug. 14, covering Aug. 14 to 21, 2024
The slack or weak pattern looks to continue into much of next week, which makes it difficult to pinpoint which areas could see showers or thunderstorms, and on which days. Best chances for precipitation look to be over the eastern Prairies. This type of pattern also makes it difficult to predict where forest fire smoke will be.
Klassen: Feeder market holds value amid economic uncertainty
Overall, the calf market appeared to be more sensitive to the weakness in the deferred live cattle futures while buyers of yearlings were focused on securing ownership. Ideas are that yearling supplies are down from year-ago levels and scarcity factor is driving the bullish enthusiasm.
Prairie forecast: Temperatures to warm up
Forecast issued Aug. 7, covering Aug. 7 to 14, 2024
For this forecast period, it's looking like the forecasted strong area of high pressure is going to dominate the weather across the Prairies. This should bring plenty of sunshine and warming temperatures. Overnight lows look to be seasonable, so at this point it doesn't look like we'll see heat warnings—but as usual you just never know.
Klassen: Feeder rally stalls
For the week ending August 3, Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were relatively unchanged from seven days earlier. Strong buying interest continued on yearlings straight off grass; however, the “just get’em” type orders that were evident a week earlier now had limits. More cattle will come available in August and buyers are being more patient to see how the market develops.
Prairie forecast: Cooler weather coming, but little precipitation
Forecast issued July 31, covering July 31 to August 7, 2024
It's looking like we'll soon see an end to the hot conditions of the last few weeks as upper ridging collapses and the upper flow across the Prairies moves to a straight west-to-east flow. Under this pattern, we should see textbook summer conditions. The only downside is there aren't many chances of precipitation.
Klassen: Western Canadian yearling prices hit fresh record highs
The year-over-year decline in last year’s calf crop has caused the market to set new records. Larger finishing feedlots are setting the price structure as many of these lots have seasonal low inventory. The quality of yearlings coming off grass is excellent with buyers shopping for feed efficiencies.
Alberta Crop Report: High temperatures damage crops
Major crops were rated at 55.3 per cent good to excellent, down from 72.9 per cent the previous week. The south region’s crops were rated 77.2 per cent good to excellent, while the northeast region was at 62.5 per cent and the Peace region was at 57.3 per cent. Conditions in the northwest region fell to 37.7 per cent and the central region dropped to 32.4 per cent, for declines of 40.1 and 29.8 points, respectively.
Cereal leaf disease minimal in Alberta but be aware of blown-in stripe rust
The province received variable precipitation this spring which had pathologists and producers expecting the arrival of members of the leaf spot complex. However, Kelly Turkington with the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Lacombe Research and Development Centre said they may have been scorched by the July heat wave.
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
