Demand fluctuations put pressure on cattle prices

Demand fluctuations put pressure on cattle prices

A lower loonie could insulate local prices against declines in U.S. futures

Prices at Manitoba’s cattle auctions were slightly lower during the week ended March 20, driven largely by fluctuations in demand. Tara Fulton, manager of Gladstone Livestock Auction Mart, noted prices for heavier cattle over 750 lbs. have been under pressure for the past three weeks. “Demand for lighter-weight animals has been strong all along, because

Grain growers are up against an added layer of uncertainty as they get ready for spring seeding and, in some cases, to complete last fall’s harvest.

Currency weakness supportive for Canadian-grown commodities

Wheat futures drew some strength from demand for shelf-stable goods

It’s a fluid situation’ was the phrase of the week as the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic infected everything it touched. The grains and oilseeds were not immune to the large swings seen in the global financial markets, but did manage to hold up reasonably well, all things considered. Social isolation, quarantines, travel restrictions and general worldwide


Truckers deal with new reality under COVID-19

Truckers deal with new reality under COVID-19

Reduced services on the road have made for a much different international trucking experience

Trucks are still moving across the Canada-U.S. border, but trucking companies say the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is still making life difficult. Both the U.S. and Canadian governments have exempted trade from their travel restrictions. On March 16, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Canada would ban entry to foreign nationals except for Canadian citizens, permanent residents,

Rural municipalities ‘grinding to a halt’ in face of pandemic

Rural municipalities ‘grinding to a halt’ in face of pandemic

COVID-19: Community centres and offices go dark in effort to protect residents

Rural municipal leaders are rethinking how they govern and provide essential services in an era of social distancing due to COVID-19. It’s “hurry up and wait to get everything in place,” said West Interlake Reeve Art Jonasson. The RM of West Interlake has closed its office to the public, though staff will continue to work,



CFA president Mary Robinson at the organization’s AGM in Ottawa in February 2020. (CFA-fca.ca)

CFA seeks immediate cash for farmers

Farm and industry leaders say more needed beyond measures already announced

The Canadian Federation of Agriculture wants the federal government to provide immediate stimulus to farmers through business risk management (BRM) programs as part of its ongoing response to COVID-19. At a recent board meeting, the organization representing about 200,000 farmers across Canada passed motions calling for increased funding to the AgriInvest BRM program — and


(File photo by Dave Bedard)

Farm suppliers race COVID-19 spread for planting season

Winnipeg/Chicago | Reuters — North America’s biggest farm suppliers are accelerating shipments of fertilizer, seeds and agricultural chemicals to crop-growing regions in an unprecedented race against the coronavirus that threatens to disrupt planting season. The timing could not be worse for farmers preparing to plant crops. Disruptions in deliveries of fertilizer, seeds or chemicals could

Editorial: Coronavirus situation offers strange times

I’m sure most of us are feeling a sense of other-worldliness these days. It’s like we’re suddenly at war, but against an unseen enemy. The prime minister holds daily briefings outside his residence, while observing his own self-quarantine. The U.S. border has slammed shut for weeks and possibly months to anything but essential traffic. Domestic


Pork processors are grappling with social distancing and employees who are suddenly without childcare.

Pork sector looks for coronavirus answers

COVID-19: The pork sector’s labour- and human-intensive production system has added an extra challenge to maintaining the value chain

Andrew Dickson has had a busy few days. The general manager for the Manitoba Pork Council, Dickson has been on the phone, both dealing with his own organization’s steps towards social distancing and trying to deal with the looming concerns of the pork industry in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. For an industry like

(Gelmold/iStock/Getty Images)

CBOT weekly outlook: Wheat futures underpinned for now

However, traders still watching headlines

MarketsFarm — U.S. wheat futures have climbed higher over the past week, with the largest gains in Chicago Board of Trade soft wheat, as global uncertainty over the COVID-19 pandemic provided some support. However, that uncertainty could also makes predicting market trends rather difficult, according to an analyst. “All of my comments come with a