(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Barley prices still historically high, but face headwinds

Bulk corn delivery remains more convenient

MarketsFarm — Feed barley bids in Western Canada remain historically strong, despite easing off their highs over the past month and trending lower. With bids of around $410 per tonne into the Lethbridge feedlot alley, feed barley “is still a sell,” according to Mike Jubinville of MarketsFarm, speaking on a webinar. However, he noted there […] Read more

CBOT May 2023 soybeans with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Crop futures slide on disappointing export sales, improved weather

Traders adjust positions before Easter weekend

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade grain and soybean futures crumbled on Thursday on disappointing U.S. export sales and an improved weather outlook for U.S. spring plantings, analysts said. U.S. soybean export sales for 2022-23 were 155,300 tonnes for the week ended March 30, down 42 per cent from the prior four-week average, […] Read more


CBOT May 2023 corn with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Chicago futures lower on U.S. weather outlooks

Traders keep eye on warming trend for northern states

Mexico City | Reuters — Chicago corn futures closed lower on Wednesday after a day of ups and downs on improved weather outlooks for planting season in the U.S. and market readjustments from technically oversold positions, traders said. The prospect of a drier, warmer spell boosting spring field work in the northern farm belt that […] Read more

CME June 2023 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME cattle up on higher cash price expectations

June lean hogs hit new lows

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures firmed on Wednesday on expectations for higher U.S. cash prices this week, as lean hog futures set contract lows, analysts said. Cash cattle were bid at about $168/cwt in the southern Plains, roughly $1 higher than the bulk of trading last week, said Dennis Smith, […] Read more


CBOT May 2023 soft red winter wheat with 20-day moving average, MGEX May 2023 hard red spring wheat (yellow line) and K.C. May 2023 hard red winter wheat (orange line). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Chicago grains down on better weather, profit-taking

U.S. winter wheat crop rating reported at lowest since 1989

Mexico City | Reuters — Chicago grains futures closed lower on Tuesday as traders took profits, analysts said, while improving weather forecasts eased concerns about planting in the United States. Blizzard warnings were posted on Tuesday across most of the northern Plains spring wheat belt, but forecasts called for a turn to warmer and drier […] Read more

CME June 2023 live cattle with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME cattle slide on profit-taking

April lean hogs set contract low

Chicago | Reuters — Profit-taking pushed down Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures on Tuesday, while front-month lean hog futures tumbled to another contract low. Losses on Wall Street helped set a negative tone for the markets, as live cattle futures pulled back from contract highs reached on Monday, traders said. “Cattle-wise, we got a bit […] Read more


File photo of a chickpea crop in India. (Nikhil Patil/iStock/Getty Images)

Pulse weekly outlook: World chickpea supplies expected tight over next six months

MarketsFarm — Chickpeas are expected to be in short supply around the world over the next six months, according to a release from the Global Pulse Confederation (GPC). Hot and dry weather in India cut production prospects for that country’s kabuli chickpea crop, according to the report. Production out of Mexico also failed to meet […] Read more

File photo of an irrigated alfalfa stand in Saudi Arabia. (JohnnyGreig/E+/Getty Images)

Saudi Arabia highly dependent on grain imports

Alfalfa more profitable for domestic growers

MarketsFarm — While Saudi Arabia is a giant among the oil-producing countries of the world, the desert kingdom does produce small amounts of grain. With a population that’s about one million less than Canada’s, Saudi Arabia is extremely dependent on importing its grain from overseas. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) attaché in Riyadh explained […] Read more


CBOT May 2023 soybeans with 20-day moving average (right column) and NYMEX May 2023 West Texas intermediate crude oil (black line, left column). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Chicago soybeans, wheat up on energy boost

Crude oil jumps on surprise OPEC+ output cuts

Mexico City | Reuters — Chicago soybean and wheat futures closed higher on Monday, boosted by a rally in energy markets and concerns over U.S. crop conditions. Corn closed lower, however, as weather forecasts showed slightly drier conditions that would be favourable to planting, analysts said. Oil prices spiked after a surprise announcement by OPEC+ […] Read more

CME June 2023 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle down off highs on profit-taking

Hogs continue mixed on U.S. farrowing intentions

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures slumped on Monday as profit-taking dragged prices down after the market set new contract highs, traders said. CME June live cattle ended down 0.9 cent at 161.225 cents/lb., after reaching a high of 162.525 cents/lb. (all figures US$). That exceeded Friday’s high of 162.175 cents/lb. […] Read more