There is never a shortage of issues in the cattle business. Since 2003 we have dealt a rising currency, export bans and struggles with boxed beef demand. On the bright side the supply equation looks to be bullish and demand for middle meat appears to be recovering. On the political side there has been some… Read More
Category: Cattle
It always amazes me how two weeks can make such a difference in the outlook for an industry. Two weeks ago Anne and I talked about the nervousness of the cattle market based on a high dollar, high feed and price plateau. Now the dollar is lower and the US fat prices spiked $5 last… Read More
By Megan Oleksyn Recently I attended the Western Stock Growers€™ Association€™s (WSGA) summer meeting, this year held in Donalda, AB. Why Donalda, you ask? I asked the same question after I got out my google map and found out just where Donalda was. The answer to €˜why Donalda?€™ really intrigued me. In this small Alberta… Read More
To say that Travis Toews is willing to take on challenges is putting things mildly. In fact if I was him I would say goodbye to my cows back home and get the frequent flyer program revved up, especially if his reign as President of CCA is anything like his predecessors. Travis is the new… Read More
Last week at the international livestock congress I heard many speeches about the past, present and future of the canadian cattle industry. At the beginning of congress the Alberta Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development welcomed the delegates to Calgary and wished them the best at their conference. Due to the fact Mr. Hayden is… Read More
With the fall run about to begin many feeders are in a very nervous place. It can be very difficult to make good business decisions when the market is nervous. If the list below continues to unfold through the fall it will really separate the good managers from the great managers. Or the lucky from… Read More
As Anne Dunford has mentioned many times in the Beef Market Update, the realities of the cow herd reduction will eventually show its face in the supply and demand equation. Sometimes you just need to see things for yourself. This week as my dad, my brother and myself drove on some back roads from Kimberley… Read More
By Megan Oleksyn, It all started as an alternative market for Lanigan, Sk area farmers to sell their grain. It is now a 28,500 head/year feedlot, a 13 million litre ethanol plant and a great asset to the community. Pound-Maker began in 1970, as a 2500 head feedlot so local farmers had an alternative market… Read More
The Calgary Stampede is back again this year and it is definitely the biggest party in Canada every year. The Stampede has transitioned from a agriculture centric event to one also about the fair, thrill rides and concerts. All things considered the Calgary Stampede still holds its roots in agriculture. With the rodeo, chuck wagon… Read More
As we discuss quite often in the Beef Market Update with Anne Dunford, Canada is very dependent on the ability to export beef. As everyone knows the market place changed in 2003 when the first case of BSE was discovered in Canada. Over time Canada has been battling to regain its export markets to normalize… Read More
Not only does wet weather impact the grain and oilseed markets but it also has an impact on the livestock markets. Feedyards and ranches are in the elements which means with cattle in the elements the impact of dry or wet weather is definitely a factor in the profitability of the producer. Anne Dunford and… Read More
In this weeks episode, Anne Dunford discusses the impact that external forces are having on the North American Cattle market. It is becoming very clear that the markets like to respond to any news it can causing unnecessary prices moves which results in uncontrollable risk. Many times these external forces are reality but sometimes they… Read More
Last week the Alberta government released the information on a new age verification incentive program. Outside of Quebec, Alberta is the only province to have mandatory age verification. The data shows that even though the process is mandatory below 70% are actually getting RFID tagged. This is concerning to the province and required a response…. Read More
The Canadian Dollar is known as a commodity currency but as of late the European Union financial situation is playing havoc with the Canadian currency. Many feedyard and cattle ranchers are really getting stressed out by how violently the dollar has moved in the recent months. As we have mentioned before on this website, it… Read More
The one thing that stays consistent is that if you are in the cattle feeding business your really need to be able to stomach volatility and adverse affects that are outside of your realm of control as a producer. The snow storm has had a real impact on the cattle in the yards along with… Read More