Hogs The U.S. national live price average for barrows and gilts was $29.87 on July 24. U.S. hogs averaged $38.11 on a carcass basis Aug 7, down from $40.97 July 31. The U.S. pork cutout was $71.93 per hundred weight Aug. 7, up from $65.31 July 31. The estimated U.S. weekly slaughter to Aug. 8 […] Read more
Markets — page 324
WP livestock report
Consumers’ role in value chain increasing in importance
Food awareness is rising, and farmers are encouraged to consider consumers as new team members who need training
The impact of COVID-19 on consumers will affect how the agricultural value chain operates in future, said those on a panel discussion held during Ag in Motion Discovery Plus. Kim Kirchherr, a registered dietitian in Illinois considered a farm-to-table expert, said consumer behaviour is evolving because of a changing definition of health and wellness. She […] Read more
Land ownership questioned
Farmers are complicating and confusing their focus by owning most of their farmland, says a farmland investment adviser. That misfocus is also robbing them of capital they could be using to farm better. “Let’s focus on being really good operators,” said Scott McEwen, a Toronto alternative asset value expert. “You aren’t necessarily the best asset […] Read more
Farmers should not ignore talk of second COVID wave
In most summers, many young folk flock to ocean beaches to catch big waves. I tried that once, ending up having an expensive pair of prescription sunglasses torn off my head and lost in the Los Angeles surf. That was the end of my body-surfing career. Crop producers couldn’t be floating on calmer seas today, […] Read more
Caution advised if eyeing cheap credit
Borrowing too much when interests are low may be asking for trouble, but using it to refinance can be a smart move
What do you do with historically low interest rates and oceans of cheap debt available to people with good credit? That’s a question confronting flush farmers and other creditworthy businesspeople in Canada and around the world. Fortunately, most analysts think farmers have plenty of time to ponder the question. “In the short to medium term, […] Read more
Large Canadian oat crop may pressure prices
The large crops that producers are expected to harvest aren’t expected to flood the market — with the exception of oats
Farmers smile if they see big, good quality crops growing in their fields. But some can furrow their brows if they see everybody around them also growing big, good quality crops. Especially with Canadian production dominating some crops’ global supply-and-demand dynamics, big crops can bring woe to new crop prices. However, farmers this year don’t […] Read more
Veg oil rally gives canola much welcomed momentum
November canola futures broke above technical resistance as July came to an end, supported by strong vegetable oil markets, strong sales of United States new crop soybeans and continuing crusher and exporters demand for canola. It would be good to see the contract hit that nice round $500 a tonne mark, a level not reached […] Read more
China makes progress rebuilding hog herd
Country says sow numbers will return to pre-African swine fever levels by the end of the year but observers are skeptical
China claims to be making huge strides in rebuilding its hog inventory but one North American analyst is skeptical of the government’s numbers. China’s National Bureau of Statistics reports that the country’s hog inventory reached 340 million head at the end of June, up from 310 million at the beginning of the year, according to […] Read moreCanfax report – August 6, 2020
Dressed trade steady Last week was fairly uneventful in the fed cattle market. Most of the dressed trade was steady with the previous week at $225 per hundredweight delivered. There was thinly reported trade at higher prices up to $229 per cwt. delivered. Most cattle were being scheduled for pickup in one to two weeks, […] Read more
Recent outbreak shows rural areas not immune
COVID-19 outbreaks in a number of Hutterite colonies should be a wake-up call to all of us in rural areas. The virus is real, it’s not going away and we should all take proper precautions. Until recently, the pandemic seemed a distant problem. Cases were low in most rural regions. Yes, there was a problem […] Read more
