(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder cattle markets in price discovery mode

For the week ending September 7, Western Canadian yearling markets traded steady to $5/cwt higher in Alberta but steady to $6/cwt lower in Saskatchewan and Manitoba compared to seven days earlier. Major feedlots in Alberta appear to be focusing on local cattle. The calf market is in price discovery mode with prices quoted $10/cwt higher to $10/cwt lower.

Photo: Canada Beef Inc.

Klassen: Feeder cattle market stabilizes

For the week ending August 31, Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were relatively unchanged compared to seven days earlier. Finishing feedlots are exuding a cautious sentiment. While order buyers had a full deck, there were upside limits. Pen-sized strings of quality yearlings traded at a premium to average values. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle […] Read more






(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

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.

Corn has started to tassel in parts of Ontario.

Rain and heat make for promising crop conditions

Areas where crops were planted on time should see good yields

Over the past month, above-average precipitation and normal temperatures have resulted in optimal growing conditions for Ontario and a large portion of the U.S. Midwest. The two-week forecast for the U.S. Corn Belt calls for above-average temperatures and normal precipitation.  This hot forecast comes as the U.S. corn crop is pollinating and the soybean crop […] Read more



File photo of cattle in an Alberta feedlot. (Geralyn Wichers photo)

Klassen: Feeder market leaps higher

For the week ending July 20, Western Canadian yearlings traded $8-$15 above prices from seven days earlier. Values for larger groups of quality calves were up $8 to $10 from a week earlier while run of the mill smaller packages were relatively unchanged.

The U.S. is expecting a big soybean crop.

Expect volatility in soybean market from tariff trade distortion

Large U.S. crop and weaker export demand will overhang North American values

The most recent U.S. and Canadian crop surveys indicate that above average yields are expected for Ontario and U.S. corn and soybean crops. Quick lookSoybeans: China is buying soybeans, meal and vegetable oil from countries that are not implementing tariffs on Chinese products. This is distorting trade flows and enhancing price volatility in the soybean […] Read more