For the week ending May 16, Western Canadian feeder markets were steady to $6 higher on average compared to seven days earlier. Heifers were relatively unchanged but steers were notably stronger, especially on replacements over 800 pounds.
Tag Archives Alberta
Klassen: Buying interest for feeder cattle subsides
Prairie forecast: Cool long weekend expected for Saskatchewan and Manitoba
Forecast issued May 14, covering May 14 to 21, 2025
Across the eastern Prairies, all eyes are on the breakdown of the western trough and the resulting ejection of the final area of low pressure. The weather models are still trying to get a handle on this feature.
Klassen: Feedlot operators become cautious on purchases
For the week ending May 10, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded steady to $5 higher on average. Quality packages of lighter calves were priced $10-$15 above week ago levels. Many auction barns are only holding sales every two or three weeks at this time of year with limited numbers on offer. This made the market hard to define in certain weight categories.
Prairie forecast: Hot east, cool west
Forecast issued May 7, covering May 7 to 14, 2025
We saw a strong ridge of high pressure build in last week, which brought daytime highs into the low thirties across parts of the eastern Prairies. Once the ridge collapsed, cooler air moved back in. Well, it looks like we can expect another cycle of building and collapsing ridges. Then, starting on the weekend, the weather pattern should become more energetic thanks to a strong trough of low pressure forecasted to develop off the West Coast.
Klassen: Feeder market consolidates as supplies decrease
For the week ending May 2, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were relatively unchanged compared to seven days earlier. The heifer discount to steers continues to narrow. Steady buying interest from Ontario was noted in Manitoba and certain locations in Saskatchewan.
Prairie forecast: Here comes the summery weather
Forecast issued April 30, covering April 30 to May 7, 2025
Well, one week is up and as I pointed out in last week's forecast, the weather pattern still looks like it is going to flip from a cool-ish spring regime right into a summer-like pattern. This flip should happen over the next few days.
Klassen: Higher packer bids enhance feeder complex
For the week ending April 26, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $3 to $5 higher compared to seven days earlier.
Soil health benchmarking survey in Alberta
Researchers at the Chinook Applied Research Association’s Soil Health Lab have adapted a soil health assessment from Cornell University to evaluate Alberta soils
Every farmer wants “healthy soil.” But what does that mean, and how do they know if they have it? “The first question I ask when I’m speaking to farmers is, ‘How many of you have done soil testing?’” says Yamily Zavala, PhD, soil health lab manager and soil health and crop management specialist at the […] Read more
Potatoes Prairie-wide
Practical Research: How Prairie researchers uncovered a serious potato disease’s hiding place
As a consequence of cleaning up potato diseases, the most recent yields in Prairie potatoes, as of 2024, are 20 tons per acre for Alberta and 18 for Manitoba.
Canadian farmers’ view of the federal government differs by province — but not by much
Part 3 | Canadian farmers reveal concerns ahead of federal election
Farmers from Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec answer the question "do you feel represented by the federal government?"
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
