lebanon vineyard with tractor

What will a Middle East war do to your costs and prices?

Bonds and Risk: Expect fuel costs to be up, interest costs down

Farmers are caught in a developing cost squeeze. Global oil costs are threatening to balloon from about US$80 today to over US$100 per barrel, which would be a 25 per cent leap. On the other hand, interest rates in the U.S. and Canada are scheduled to decline by as much as 1.5 per cent by […] Read more



Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem takes part in a news conference, after cutting key interest rate, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada July 24, 2024. REUTERS/Blair Gable

Canada’s inflation eases to 1.6 per cent, increasing chances of 50 bps rate cut

Canada's annual inflation rate slowed more than expected to 1.6 per cent in September, data showed on Tuesday, prompting markets to increase bets of a 50 basis point rate cut next week. The easing of inflation, which was mainly led by a huge drop in the price of gasoline, was the smallest annual increase in consumer prices since February 2021, Statistics Canada said.

Fed cattle prices are expected to trend lower from October 2024 to December 2025.

Cattle market vulnerable to slower economic growth

The Markets: Watch consumer trends for indications of a beef price slowdown

Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $425-$428/cwt delivered in mid-August. Live prices were quoted at $255/cwt (US$186), f.o.b. feedlot, in southern Alberta. The fed market has come off the summer highs as demand eases moving into the fall period. Monthly restaurant spending on both sides of the […] Read more