Feed weekly outlook: Drought, demand deplete southern Alberta stocks

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Published: May 7, 2021

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(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

MarketsFarm — Prices for feed grains are continuing to go up — and with depleted stocks and dry conditions forecast for the Prairies, they are likely to rise a bit more.

“There’s a shortage of corn. Corn’s at over $400 (per tonne) in southern Alberta. You’ve got barley that’s pushing over $340-$350 and that’s a $50 difference between the two,” said Mike Fleischhauer of Eagle Commodities at Lethbridge, Alta.

“Between the two, we’re starting to see signs that there’s just no inventory left. We’re still a couple of months away from anything new coming in.”

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According to Prairie Ag Hotwire from Wednesday, high-delivered bids for Alberta feed barley were at $7.58 per bushel, an increase of 61 cents from last month and $2.57 from last year.

As for Alberta feed wheat, high-delivered bids were at $9.25/bu., 68 cents higher than last month and $2.59 higher than the year before.

Adding to pressures on current feed grain stocks, according to Fleischhauer, are international buyers purchasing new crop, ongoing drought and a new 40,000-head feedlot north of Enchant, about 75 km northeast of Lethbridge.

“In the next 30 to 40 days, we’ll see what transpires. In southern Alberta, it’s limping,” he said.

— Adam Peleshaty reports for MarketsFarm from Stonewall, Man.

About the author

Adam Peleshaty

Adam Peleshaty

Reporter

Adam Peleshaty is a longtime resident of Stonewall, Man., living next door to his grandparents’ farm. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in statistics from the University of Winnipeg. Before joining Glacier FarmMedia, Adam was an award-winning community newspaper reporter in Manitoba's Interlake. He is a Winnipeg Blue Bombers season ticket holder and worked as a timekeeper in hockey, curling, basketball and football.

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