Feed weekly outlook: Prices slip during quiet January

Shortages of trucks, drivers still trouble cattle sector

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Published: January 20, 2023

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(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

MarketsFarm — With January being a quiet time there’s isn’t a whole lot of direction for feed grains, according to Brandon Motz of CorNine Commodities at Lacombe, Alta.

Prices for feed barley and wheat have been slowing slipping, he said — especially with feedlots not having to buy and farmers not needing to sell — but there could be an upswing toward spring.

“It’s going to depend a lot on the South American crops, the United States crop and whatever the corn acres look like,” Motz said, quipping “we keep circling the wagons.”

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He quoted feed barley at $425-$435 per tonne delivered to Picture Butte near Lethbridge, with wheat pretty much the same.

Prairie Ag Hotwire cited feed barley prices in Western Canada as steady to lower, with those in Saskatchewan remaining unchanged at $7.68-$8/tonne. Prices in Alberta slipped 11 cents on the week, sitting at $7.50-$9.58/bu., while those in Manitoba lost 37 cents at $7.54/bu.

As for feed wheat, Prairie Ag Hotwire said prices were also steady lower across the region, with Saskatchewan holding at $8.50-$11.25/bu. In Manitoba, prices eased back 12 cents at $10.87 and pulled back 27 cents in Alberta at $9.67-$12.30/bu.

Motz said transportation issues still plagued the cattle industry, with a shortage of trucks as well as drivers. While the situation won’t be resolved in the near future, he noted the problem has benefitted those dealing with corn imported from the U.S.

— Glen Hallick reports for MarketsFarm from Winnipeg.

About the author

Glen Hallick

Glen Hallick

Reporter

Glen Hallick grew up in rural Manitoba near Starbuck, where his family farmed. Glen has a degree in political studies from the University of Manitoba and studied creative communications at Red River College. Before joining Glacier FarmMedia, Glen was an award-winning reporter and editor with several community newspapers and group editor for the Interlake Publishing Group. Glen is an avid history buff and enjoys following politics.

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