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Klassen: Feeder market continues downward slide

Prairies' snowstorm leads to risk discount

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were steady to $2 lower; calves traded $2-$4 below week-ago levels. Saskatchewan and Manitoba experienced their first major snowstorm of the season last week. The market tends to incorporate a risk discount for adverse weather as buyers factor in higher death loss. Also, major feedlot operators believe




A sunflower crop north of St. Adolphe, Man. on Sept. 19, 2021. (Dave Bedard photo)

Rains make sunny days for sunflower crops

MarketsFarm — Despite drought conditions throughout southern Manitoba decimating crops during the summer, late rain showers in some areas are improving harvests of one crop in particular. Precipitation in August helped improve the sunflower seed harvest in areas of Manitoba, with the province reporting on Oct. 13 average yields of more than 2,000 lbs. per


Minneapolis (MGEX) December 2021 wheat (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

Prairie cash wheat: CWRS bids up with U.S. futures

However, a strong loonie applies pressure

MarketsFarm — Minneapolis spring wheat futures climbed to contract highs during the week ended Thursday, which provided spillover support for Canadian cash bids. However, strength in the Canadian dollar was a bearish influence, tempering the upside in the cash market. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS, 13.5 per cent protein) wheat prices were up by

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Demand for feeder cattle eases

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were down $3-$5; calves traded $2-$6 below week-ago levels. The market has come under pressure for three main reasons. Cattle on feed inventories in Alberta and Saskatchewan are 36 per cent above the five-year average. Many feedlots are comfortable with ownership levels. The drought caused about 150,000





(Thinkstock photo)

Prairie cash wheat: Bids mixed as harvest comes to close

U.S. December wheat futures up on week

MarketsFarm — The spring wheat harvest coming to a close in the Prairie provinces and cuts in production estimates south of the border have caused mixed bids in Western Canada for the week ended Thursday. All three Prairie provinces have either completed or have nearly completed spring wheat combining, bringing harvest pressure to prices. Meanwhile,

File photo of a pea crop south of Ethelton, Sask. on Aug. 1, 2019. (Dave Bedard photo)

Pulse weekly outlook: Pea protein in demand despite falling yields

MarketsFarm — Very few crops took more of a hit during the drought-stricken summer of 2021 than dry peas. Meanwhile, firm international demand and tightening stocks will raise pea prices even higher. According to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) latest field crop estimates released Friday, pea production dropped 45 per cent at 2.527 million tonnes