Canada: Feed barley, wheat prices steady during week to August 24

Prices for feed barley and wheat didn’t change much for the most part during the week ended on August 24, according to Erin Harakal of Agfinity at Stony Plain, Alberta, Grainews reported.

“This week it has been pretty steady compared to the end of last week,” Harakal said, noting barley prices dropped about C$20 per tonne.

“Just as we get close to harvest, there’s just some harvest pressure,” she added about the declines, stating that old- and new-crop prices “were kind of colliding.”

Harakal said feed barley delivered was C$350-C$360 per tonne going into feedlot alley at Lethbridge. Feed wheat delivered to the same location was going for C$360-C$370/tonne.

However, she noted wheat prices were more localized and point to the Edmonton area where they garnered C$330-C$350/tonne picked up.

Another major factor keeping feed prices down has been the volume of corn imported from the U.S. Corn being less expensive has created a cap on barley prices, Harakal said.

Feed barley was steady to lower during the week, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire, with prices in Saskatchewan losing 40 cents per bushel at C$6.25-C$6.60 per bushel delivered for old crop as of Wednesday. New-crop prices were at C$6.25-C$6.80/bu.

In Manitoba, old-crop feed barley fetched C$6.25-C$6.48/bu. delivered, down 15 cents, with new-crop at C$6.25. Alberta saw its prices hold at C$6.25-C$9.36/bu. for old-crop, while new-crop was C$6.25-C$6.80.

It was a similar story for feed wheat prices, being steady to lower. With a 25-cent loss, Saskatchewan old-crop prices were C$7.50-C$9.50/bu. delivered and C$6.25-C$6.80 for new-crop. Manitoba incurred a 15-cent decline, with prices at C$8.72/bu. for old-crop and no pricing for new-crop. Alberta held at C$8.15-C$11.70 delivered for old-crop and new-crop at C$7.75-C$9.25.

25 August, 2023