Markets in the United States faltered this week. While prices hit a high two weeks ago, this week they settled $7–$8 lower than last week. Unsurprisingly for the time of year, packers have cut kills this week, but that wasn’t enough to support the choice cutout, which dropped $6.50. While the U.S. experienced reduced prices,... Read More
Category: Markets
Commodity markets have been digesting a tidal wave of What if? questions: What if China is buying? What if Trump imposes tariffs? What if acreage falls? What if China isn't buying? Ed Broshinski, market analyst with Cargill MarketSense, says that managed money has been working its way through these scenarios, and that canola, specifically may... Read More
Kent Bacus, executive director, government affairs for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, hasn't had a dull moment in the last few weeks. He's not had much sleep either. That's not surprising, as any time there is a change in government leadership, his department is going to be busy. Add in a change from a Democrat... Read More
Volatility is always part of agriculture, but the ups and downs of the industry have never been more apparent than what farmers have experienced in recent years. From the impacts of a global pandemic to historic rises and falls in income, farmers are used to the roller-coaster ride; and there's more uncertainty ahead as Trump... Read More
A strong cattle market depends on many factors, all of which play a role in ensuring producers’ long-term success. While beef demand in the United States is the highest it has been in the last 40 years, and retail prices have risen 4.6 per cent annually over the last 25 years, producers still face a... Read More
The U.S. and Canadian cow-herds are both at record lows, at a time when cattle prices are reaching record highs. The market signal to build the herd is there; however, the reality of realizing strong income selling at these prices and several years of drought means ranchers have been in sell mode, not build. That... Read More
The head of Bunge says the company is ready to integrate Viterra into its business, while awaiting final approval from authorities in China. The combination of the two multi-national agribusinesses cleared a major hurdle last month when the Canadian government gave it a green light, with a list of conditions that included the sale of... Read More
Farms and ranches cannot operate without water. While having access to water seems like it should be quite straight forward, navigating government framework around access to water might not be. Team Alberta Crops and the Intensive Livestock Working Group in Alberta have been working to ensure that the provincial government had the opportunity to hear... Read More
Coming off some near-month contract highs of $200-/+ it's no surprise to see futures falling as the week closes out, but cash cattle in the south ticked higher as they caught up to northern prices this past week (Check out the related story on cattle futures here). The cutout did show signs of weakening in... Read More
There's been no avoiding the talk of tariffs in the weeks leading up to the inauguration of President Trump and his subsequent pledge to implement 25 per cent tariffs on Canada and Mexico on February 1st. New data from RealAgristudies confirms and quantifies the level of concern in Canada's agriculture sector. The results are based... Read More