Canfax report

This cattle market information is selected from the weekly report from Canfax, a division of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. More market information, analysis and statistics are available by becoming a Canfax subscriber by calling 403-275-5110 or at www.canfax.ca. Fed cattle higher Chicago live cattle futures rallied to an 18 month high, and early cash fed […] Read more

Producers have until May 31 to protect prices under the Western Cattle Price Insurance Program. | File photo

Hedging risk is a good idea even in rising cattle market

Cattle producers are an independent bunch who pride themselves on self-reliance, but many of them would like to be less alone when it comes to risk. The good news is that they have decent hedging options today. The bad news is that today’s market conditions are the exact sort of situation that can cause farmers […] Read more

Turkey and India are both important markets for Canadian lentil farmers — Turkey bought $381 million of Canadian lentils in 2016, while India’s lentil imports were worth $523 million.  |  Reuters photo

Large crop may see dropin lentil exports to Turkey

Canadian markets could be squeezed further by Australia’s lentil crop, with harvest forecasts up to triple the previous two years

Turkey is poised to harvest its biggest lentil crop in a decade, which will reduce demand from Canada’s second biggest customer, according to a large importer and processor of the crop. Turkey bought $381 million of Canadian lentils in 2016, which ranks behind only India’s $523 million in imports. So it is an important market […] Read more


An analyst thinks Pakistan’s new fumigation policy is a ploy to stop shipments in wake of plummeting prices for chickpeas and lentils in the country.  |  File photo

Pakistan’s fumigation rule threatens pulse trade

The country gave no advanced notice and hasn’t identified what pest poses a concern that requires fumigation

Just when Canada’s pulse industry got temporary relief on a trade impediment with India, a new one has cropped up with Pakistan. The new director general at Pakistan’s equivalent of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is de-manding grain shipments be fumigated at origin rather than at arrival as was done in the past. The CFIA […] Read more

ICE Canada canola futures rise on weather woes, tight supplies

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, April 20 (Reuters) – ICE Canada canola futures rose on Thursday, hitting a one-month high for the fourth straight day, on concerns about snowy weather in parts of the Canadian Prairies. Northern Alberta, where a significant area of last year’s crop remains unharvested, received heavy snow in the past week. Farmers are reluctant […] Read more



CME live cattle futures up 9th straight session

CHICAGO, April 19 (Reuters) – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures rose on Wednesday for the ninth consecutive session, and hit a one-year high for a second day in a row, after cash prices exceeded expectations, traders said. April live cattle  closed 1.150 cents per pound higher at 127.925 cents, and June  up 0.300 cent […] Read more

VIDEO: Canada’s agricultural markets update – April 19, 2017

VIDEO: Canada’s agricultural markets update – April 19, 2017

D’Arce McMillan, The Western Producer markets editor, monitors trends in the North American and global agricultural markets. Each week he hosts a market video about crops. The video is designed to help viewers understand the forces responsible for changes in the trade. If agricultural markets are important to you, we have you covered.


Strong beef demand lifts CME live cattle to 1-year high

CHICAGO, April 18 (Reuters) – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle on Tuesday spiked to their highest since mid-April 2016, driven by improved wholesale beef demand that may underpin cash prices this week, said traders. They said profit-taking pulled back-month futures down from new contract highs achieved earlier in the session. April live cattle closed 0.350 […] Read more

Weather risk expected to keep malt barley seeding low

Winnipeg, April 18 – Concerns about weather dictating the quality of malt barley is keeping producers from seeding the crop this year, one industry participant says, while weak prices offer no extra incentive. “Acres are definitely going to be down, because of the fear of getting feed barley, which is horrendously low priced,” said Rod […] Read more