Current Markets & Forecasts

Based on the ten-year average, it is not uncommon to see the second half of the year’s price low occur in September. Over the past couple of weeks, Alberta fed prices have been trading at a $15–$17/cwt discount against the Nebraska market. For the second half of September, cash-to-cash basis levels are the weakest since…

U.S. feedlots placed fewer cattle in August than in any other August since the data series began in 1996, according to the latest Cattle on Feed report from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Despite the decline, cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 head…

The latest United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report brought a few notable changes for the cattle sector, including lower beef production forecasts and reduced cattle price expectations. Ahead of the report, much of the focus was on whether USDA would lower its corn yield estimate. The revised…

Alberta fed prices traded sideways for the first time since June. Weighted average fed steers and heifers closed the week at $296.00 and $294.00/cwt respectively. Fed prices have now traded below year ago for four consecutive weeks. Dressed sales were reported at $495.00/cwt delivered; sales were at the top end of last week’s trading range….

Canadian farm cash receipts totaled $51.8 billion during the first two quarters of 2026, up 4.2 per cent from the same period a year earlier, according to Statistics Canada (StatsCan)’s latest Farm Cash Receipts report. The increase was driven by higher livestock and crop receipts, which rose by $1.9 billion and $1.1 billion respectively. Direct…

The Canfax average fed steer and heifer price closed around $295/cwt live, $2.50/cwt lower than the previous week. Fed cattle prices have shifted to be below year-ago levels. This is the first time since the spring of 2021 that fed prices have traded below previous-year levels. Feedlots are facing record high breakevens for the balance…

Canada’s cattle herd continues to grow in 2026, with inventories reaching their highest level in years as producers retain more breeding animals and calf numbers increase. According to Statistics Canada’s July Livestock Estimates report, released August 27, 2026, there are 12.1 million cattle and calves on Canadian farms as of July 1, up 3.2 per…

It was another tough week for the cattle feeder. Leverage has shifted out of feedlots’ hands toward the packing segment. In some cases, feedlots were looking to book hook space. Others were negotiating for a flat price with no heavy weight carcass discounts. Lift time continued to stretch out. Weighted average steer and heifer prices…