ECA Review - 2022-09-29

12 S eptember 29'22 HANNA/CORONATION/STETTLER, AB. ECA REVIEW
AGRICULTURE
AGRI-NEWS
Reason to be optimistic about fall calf prices
“Although there are some concerns
of increasing costs and dry pasture,
there is reason to be optimistic about
fall calf prices,” says Ann Boyda, livestock
economist with Alberta
Agriculture, Forestry and Rural
Economic Development. “Calf and
feeder prices showed strong performance
this summer, with calf prices
ending the second week of September
at the highest pricing in recent history,
but not reaching the record highs
experienced in 2015.”
Typically, the fourth quarter sees
feeder prices seasonally decline with
the increased supply of weaned calves.
Boyda says it is safe to presume that
this decline will be smaller this year.
Other factors that come into play in
pricing include the prospect of better
grain crops this year, strong beef
export demand, smaller U.S. and
Canadian cattle herds and strong
cattle futures.
“New-crop barley is being delivered
to Alberta feedlots and replacing some
of the U.S. corn. Decline in barley price
through summer has recently stabilized
but demand for new-crop may see
a slow rise.”
As of July 1, 2022, Statistics Canada
reports western Canadian cattle inventories
being down 3.2% to 9.5 million
head. Increases were reported in
Alberta (up 1.4%); however, the
increase in Alberta was expected to be
greater given the drought in 2021.
Breeding heifers declined across the
Western provinces with Alberta
reporting a decline of 9.4%. Boyda
notes there are no signs of herd expansion
in the U.S. either.
“Futures support a strong finish to
2022. We look to futures contract prices
as an indicator of what the market
thinks cattle will be worth at a specific
future time. The Chicago Mercantile
Exchange live and feeder cattle futures
ended higher on September 2, 2022 for
upcoming contracts expiring in
October and December.”
The supply side is supportive of
strong prices and the beef markets on
the demand side
have shown resilience
to changes
in economic conditions.
For the
first half of 2022,
Alberta live cattle
and beef (Fresh,
Frozen or
Chilled, incl.
Offal) exports
increased by
40.2% and 5.7% in
volume over the
first half of 2021.
“Domestically,
there has been
some movement
to purchase of
Video Ante-Mortem Inspection program
“The Video Ante-Mortem (VAMI)
program allows for an ante-mortem
inspection by video for animals that
cannot be transported to an abattoir so
that they may be humanely slaughtered
on site,” says Kelly Sawka,
operations manager north, with
Alberta Agriculture, Forestry and
Rural Economic Development. “The
program has already assisted several
producers who had animals that were
lame and difficult to transport.”
Once the animal has passed antemortem
inspection by video the
animal must be humanely stunned
and bled and transported to a participating
provincially-licensed abattoir
for a post-mortem inspection and
where additional activities related to
slaughter are completed.
The meat may be sold if both an
ante-mortem inspection and a postmortem
inspection have been
conducted and passed, and the meat
has been deemed fit for human
consumption.
“The VAMI program may not be able
to assist in all cases due to limited
inspection resources or availability of
licensed abattoirs,” explains Sawka.
“Also, for some cases, rural connectivity
to the internet may limit
participation in VAMI as an internet
connection is required to access the
online VAMI tool and submit a video.
Alternative slaughter options available
to producers include the Appointed
Inspector Program, On-farm
Slaughter
Operation
licence, or a
licensed mobile
butcher.”
The VAMI webpage
provides
detailed information:
https://
www.alberta.ca/
video-antemortem-inspection.aspx
Call Mike
780-385-4664
Bin Anchors
Don’t Let The Winds Bother You!
less expensive cuts but beef prices are
expected to hold steady. This reinforces
an optimistic outlook for fall of
2022,” says Boyda.
LEGACY DRILLING LTD.
Water Wells
Pasture Wells
Drilling and Servicing
Jeff Southworth
Phone: 403-854-0172 • Hanna, AB
Phone: 403-396-2254 • Delburne, AB
E-Mail: legacydrillingltd@outlook.com
Emergency 24/hr On Call
22102CC0
UPCOMING 2022 FALL SALES
Fall Run ls Here!
Regular sales every Friday at 9:00 AM,
followed by Feeder sales at 11:00 AM all through September
PRE-BOOK CALF SALES
PRE-BOOK CALF SALES
Every Monday & Wednesday at
10:00 AM Starting
October 12 th to November 9 th
LAST CHANCE
PRE BOOK CALF SALE
December 12 th at 10:00 AM
BRED SALES
BRED COW & HEIFER SALES
Every Saturday at 12:00 PM
Starting
November 12 th to December 17 th
BSSA SPECIAL
BRED COW & HEIFER SALE
December 12 th at 12:00 PM
HARDGRASS
Black & Red Angus
Bull & Female Sale
November 28 th
1:00 PM
BULL SALES
GEMSTONE CATTLE
Hereford& Angus
Bull & Female Sale
December 7 th
1:00 PM
66 RANCH
9 th Annual
Bull & Bred Female Sale
December 14 th
1:00 PM
403-362-5521
Lachie McKinnon- Manager 403-362-1825
Erik Christensen- Asst. Manager 403-363-9942
Sam Mckinnon- Field Rep 403-793-1731
bowslope.com