Terrific prices, optimism but several ongoing issues for cattle markets through 2023

Terrific prices, optimism but several ongoing issues for cattle markets through 2023

Aging producer population, drought and inflation reduce cattle numbers

Record prices were a tremendous boon to the Manitoba cattle industry in 2023, but the sector continued to struggle with significant problems during the year, according to Manitoba Beef Producers general manager Carson Callum. “I think the high prices were one of the big things leading to optimism within the sector,” he said. “There’s been




Photo: Greg Berg

ICE weekly outlook: No reason for strong rally in canola 

Canola likely to pull back once trading gets back into full swing in New Year

There were strong gains for canola on the Intercontinental Exchange on Dec. 27, as trading resumed after being closed for Christmas and Boxing Day. However, the gain will likely not be the prelude to a major upswing in the oilseed’s prices. Rather, canola is likely to pull back once trading gets back into full swing after the New Year, according to analyst Bruce Burnett of MarketsFarm.


“While the fall report shows our rivers have the capacity to receive a normal amount of spring runoff, this will depend on precipitation and snowmelt rate.” – Lisa Naylor.

Most of Manitoba drier than normal heading into winter

Dry summer and fall leaves soil moisture low and fall precipitation hasn’t been enough

MarketsFarm – Manitoba received normal to below normal precipitation during November and most of the province’s agricultural areas are faced with drier than normal conditions. That’s according to the fall conditions report issued by Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation on Dec. 14. Much of November’s snow melted and added some moisture to the soil, stated the






Swathed canola dries down in preparation of harvest in Manitoba's Interlake.

Several factors weigh on canola prices

Will canola now recover, or continue to spiral downward?

After continuing to take a barrage of heavy hits during the week of Dec. 1 to 7, canola futures on the Intercontinental Exchange are now faced with a fork in the road. They can either resume the downward spiral, busting through support level after support level, or they could see successive increases that could bring