Canada: The prospects for Alberta barley producers "look awful" as demand for feed has diminished in the wake of the closing of the Canadian/US border to Canadian cattle. Barley producers "don't really have a choice, because there is no demand," Erroll Anderson with ProMarket Communications told Resource News. Feedlots aren't pricing barley now.
"If the border doesn't open within the next month, I think barley is history. Even if the border does open it's not going to be much of a bounce, because the cattle breakevens have to be sharply lower," said Anderson. Barley prices are currently around C$3.00/bu, and Anderson said he can see a drop to C$2.70 delivered in the near future.

15 July, 2003