Insights and Stories on Beef Cattle

USDA to probe surging beef prices versus falling cattle prices

Apr. 8, 2020 at 9:11 pm CDT

Chicago | Reuters — The U.S. Agriculture Department will investigate why a surge in beef prices because of coronavirus-related hoarding did not translate into higher cattle prices for farmers, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said on Wednesday. The investigation adds scrutiny on the small group of meat companies such as Tyson […]

On-farm tests wrap up in bovine TB probe

Apr. 7, 2020 at 8:17 pm CDT

By GFM Staff

Klassen: Feeder market lacks buying interest

Apr. 7, 2020 at 4:49 am CDT

By Jerry Klassen

Beef demand soars as consumers ‘aggressively’ stock up

Apr. 6, 2020 at 1:39 pm CDT

By Alexis Kienlen

U.S. senators scrutinize meat packers’ profits during pandemic

Mar. 31, 2020 at 8:00 pm CDT

By Tom Polansek

Klassen: Feeder market experiences fortuitous bounce

Mar. 31, 2020 at 11:34 am CDT

Last week, the feeder market started on a very sluggish tone. Buyers were sitting back waiting for the market to establish direction. By Friday, yearling prices were up $2-$4 compared to seven days earlier, while calves were trading $4 to as much as $8 above week-ago levels. Cow-calf producers and […]

By Jerry Klassen

COVID-19 strains already-battered Ontario beef industry

Mar. 30, 2020 at 8:31 pm CDT

Ontario’s beef industry was already in the midst of an economic crisis, but COVID-19 is worsening the financial toll on the province’s cattle feeders. Due to extremely limited processing plant capacity, an uncompetitive market and disruptions to trade and market access, Ontario’s beef industry was losing an average of more […]

By Piper Whelan

Alberta’s Harmony Beef halts slaughter on positive COVID-19 test

Mar. 27, 2020 at 5:58 pm CDT

Ottawa/Winnipeg | Reuters — Harmony Beef, an Alberta packing plant, halted cattle slaughter on Friday after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) kept some inspectors from work, due to a positive test for COVID-19 by a Harmony worker, the company said. The partial closure follows a positive COVID-19 test by […]

By Kelsey Johnson Rod Nickel

Klassen: Feeder market remains vulnerable

Mar. 24, 2020 at 10:37 am CDT

Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle prices were quite variable. Compared to seven days earlier, Alberta feeder prices were unchanged to $5 lower; however, the markets in northern Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba were down $5 to as much as $10 in some cases. Weakness in the yearling markets […]

By Jerry Klassen

COVID-19 shifts bull buyers online

Mar. 23, 2020 at 2:23 pm CDT

As bull sale season stretches into the spring, online sales are helping the industry cut COVID-19 risks while facilitating commerce. The Livestock Market Association of Canada (LMAC) last week held an emergency meeting on how to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, and decided to follow Health Canada’s lead on limiting […]

By Lisa Guenther