(Canada Beef Inc. photo)

Feed barley in sync with Manitoba corn

CNS Canada — This year’s bumper harvest of Manitoba corn is making an impact at Alberta feedlots. According to Market Place Commodities at Lethbridge, feed barley prices are near the $215 per tonne mark, down $5 from a few weeks ago. “Corn is filling some of the volume demand, so it is keeping the price […] Read more

(JBSsa.com)

JBS says listing of U.S. unit remains priority

Sao Paulo | Reuters — Brazilian meatpacker JBS SA said listing a subsidiary in the U.S. remained a priority, even as two controlling shareholders in the company remain in jail for insider trading and their role in a corruption scandal. The long-planned initial public offering of its processed food subsidiary JBS Foods International BV was […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder market rally stalls

Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were relatively unchanged from week-ago levels. Eastern Prairie markets were softer but continue to maintain a $5 to as much as $8 premium over major feeding regions of Alberta. We’ve seen a sharp year-over-year increase in imports from the U.S., which is causing a variable price structure to develop across […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed barley marches ‘lockstep’ with U.S. corn

CNS Canada — Western Canada’s feed barley market continues to trade above the key $200 per tonne mark, taking strength from consistent demand and a lower-sized crop in 2017. “The market has changed (gotten stronger) from last year when high-vomitoxin wheat was trading at a discount,” said Jim Beusekom of Market Place Commodities in Lethbridge. […] Read more


(USDA.gov via Flickr)

U.S. September cattle placements surge

Chicago | Reuters — Ranchers in September drove 13.5 per cent more cattle into U.S. feedlots than the same month a year earlier, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported on Friday. The result topped analysts’ average forecasts and hit its highest level for the month in six years. “The good news for the consumer is […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder cattle market surges

Western Canadian feeder cattle markets experienced a precipitous bounce over the past week. Compared to seven days earlier, yearling traded $4-$6 higher; calf markets were trading $3 to as much as $10 above week-ago levels; prices for feather-light bawlers surged with 300- to 400-pounders touching the magical $300 level in some areas. Optimal weather enhanced […] Read more



(USDA.gov via Flickr)

U.S. cattle placements spike in August

Chicago | Reuters — Ranchers placed 1.93 million cattle in U.S. feedlots in August, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Friday, in a stronger-than-expected report likely to weigh on futures early next week. Cattle placements rose about three per cent from August in 2016, USDA said. Analysts polled by Reuters had predicted a decline […] Read more

Barley south of Ethelton, Sask. on Aug. 3, 2017. (Dave Bedard photo)

Feed barley market firms with weak production numbers

CNS Canada — A 16.8 per cent drop in the size of Canada’s barley crop has given feed barley prices some support, according to an industry-watcher in Alberta. “The market is looking fairly strong,” said Allan Pirness of Market Place Commodities in Lethbridge. “It’s made things a little firmer for new-crop feed grain.” Wet weather […] Read more