Improving feedlot margins contributed to the stronger feeder market. Alberta packers were buying finished cattle on a dressed basis at $500/cwt delivered which was fresh record high. Using a 60 per cent grading, this equates to a live price of $300/cwt. Feedlot breakeven pen closeouts are in the range of $260-$270/cwt. Feedlots are anxious to reload and larger groups of quality packages are limited at this time of year.
Tag Archives alberta — page 3
Klassen: Lower beef production forecasts support feeder complex
Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture to hold Alberta forum
The Americas Agriculture and Food Security Forum will be held at Olds College and run parallel to the G7 meeting in Kananaskis
Canada's office of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA) will host the 2025 Americas Agriculture and Food Security Forum at Olds College at the same time as the G7 summit on June 15-17.
Prairie forecast: Cool and damp, then sunny and warm
Forecast issued May 21, covering May 21 to 28, 2025
For this forecast period, it seems set to dry out and warm up. I suppose that's good for the areas that recently received significant rainfall and not so good for those regions dealing with fires.
Alberta seeding leaps ahead by almost 30 points
Moisture levels still strong despite declines
Spring planting in Alberta made a 27-point jump at 47 per cent complete during the week ended May 13, according to the latest crop report from the province. That's 21 points above the five-year average.
Klassen: Buying interest for feeder cattle subsides
For the week ending May 16, Western Canadian feeder markets were steady to $6 higher on average compared to seven days earlier. Heifers were relatively unchanged but steers were notably stronger, especially on replacements over 800 pounds.
Prairie forecast: Cool long weekend expected for Saskatchewan and Manitoba
Forecast issued May 14, covering May 14 to 21, 2025
Across the eastern Prairies, all eyes are on the breakdown of the western trough and the resulting ejection of the final area of low pressure. The weather models are still trying to get a handle on this feature.
Klassen: Feedlot operators become cautious on purchases
For the week ending May 10, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded steady to $5 higher on average. Quality packages of lighter calves were priced $10-$15 above week ago levels. Many auction barns are only holding sales every two or three weeks at this time of year with limited numbers on offer. This made the market hard to define in certain weight categories.
Prairie forecast: Hot east, cool west
Forecast issued May 7, covering May 7 to 14, 2025
We saw a strong ridge of high pressure build in last week, which brought daytime highs into the low thirties across parts of the eastern Prairies. Once the ridge collapsed, cooler air moved back in. Well, it looks like we can expect another cycle of building and collapsing ridges. Then, starting on the weekend, the weather pattern should become more energetic thanks to a strong trough of low pressure forecasted to develop off the West Coast.
Klassen: Feeder market consolidates as supplies decrease
For the week ending May 2, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were relatively unchanged compared to seven days earlier. The heifer discount to steers continues to narrow. Steady buying interest from Ontario was noted in Manitoba and certain locations in Saskatchewan.
Prairie forecast: Here comes the summery weather
Forecast issued April 30, covering April 30 to May 7, 2025
Well, one week is up and as I pointed out in last week's forecast, the weather pattern still looks like it is going to flip from a cool-ish spring regime right into a summer-like pattern. This flip should happen over the next few days.
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
