MarketsFarm — Prices for feed barley and wheat have remained strong over the last few weeks, according to traders in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
“They move up a dollar or two per metric tonne just to keep moving the old crop,” said Evan Peterson of JGL Commodities’ Saskatoon office.
“From what we’ve seen, buyers are just buying as they need it,” said Erin Harakal of Agfinity at Stony Plain, Alta.
Corn could become a viable alternative going into the new crop year, she noted, should barley and wheat prices remain where they are or push higher.
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For the week ending August 2, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded steady to as much as $10 higher. Quality yearling packages off grass were up as much as $15 in some cases. Prices for similar weight cattle were quite variable across the Prairies, which made the market hard to define. The market appears to be in price discovery mode for the grass yearling market.
Rain in southern Alberta will likely delay harvest until the latter part of August, Peterson said, “which has the potential to keep feed grains strong probably for the next six weeks.”
Corn often serves as a ceiling for feed prices, he added.
Over the last week feed barley prices were mixed, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire. In Manitoba, prices were $3.60-$4 per bushel after slipping six cents. Prices in Saskatchewan held firm at $3.75-$4.35/bu. and gained 11 cents in Alberta at $3.85-$5.33/bu.
Feed wheat prices were steady to lower on the week, with Manitoba seeing a drop of seven cents per bushel; prices there were $5.32/bu. Saskatchewan and Alberta prices held firm, at $5.25-$5.75/bu. and $5.08-$6.80/bu. respectively.
— Glen Hallick reports for MarketsFarm from Winnipeg.
