Photo: Jacqueline Nix/iStock/Getty Images Plus

Klassen: Feeder market consolidates at historical highs

For the week ending September 6, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were relatively unchanged compared to seven days earlier. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis at $525/cwt, up $15/cwt from a week earlier. Using a 60 per cent grading, this equates to a live price of $315/cwt. Current breakeven pen closeout […] Read more


Photo: Canada Beef

U.S. livestock: Cattle markets mostly higher

Cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange were mostly higher on Monday, although the nearby October live cattle contract settled with small losses at the final bell. The October live cattle contract lost 0.175 cents per pound at 235.800 cents while the December contract was up 0.125 cents at 237.575 cents. October feeder cattle futures […] Read more



(Country Guide file photo)

Canola groups disappointed in Carney’s plan to help growers, biofuel

‘Farmers should not be expected to borrow’

Two national canola organizations said they’re not pleased with the federal government’s announcement on helping canola growers and the biofuel industry. The Canola Council of Canada and the Canadian Canola Growers Association expressed their disappointment in a Sept. 5 news release.



Photo: File

Good weather for Alberta harvest

Heat, dryness take a toll on moisture levels

With hot and dry conditions the Alberta harvest is now in full swing, advancing 14 points to 22 per cent complete, the provincial agriculture department reported on Sept. 5. Combining was one point up compared to its five-average.



The Chicago Board of Trade Building. Photo: Kevinstack22/iStock/Getty Images

U.S. grains: Corn backs away from gains at close

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures climbed to a 6-1/2 week high on Friday on short covering ahead of the weekend and a U.S. government crop production update next week, and as U.S. export demand remained strong. However, the grain failed to hold onto the advances and settled with small losses in the most […] Read more

A University of Saskatchewan grad student has been researching how to use ergot-affected grain for feedlot cattle.  Photo: File

U.S. livestock: Profit-taking pressures cattle futures

Cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange were weaker on Friday, with chart-based positioning a feature as the market continued to back away from nearby record highs. The United States Department of Agriculture reported weekly U.S. beef export sales of 16,600 tonnes, which was up 22 per cent on the week and 51 per cent […] Read more