With cattle markets staying strong, Allan Munroe from Killarney Auction Mart says he's excited for the fall run!
"We left the spring season off thinking the market was to the moon and back and it has continued to climb all summer," says Munroe. "So, it's really exciting what we see coming forward for fall prices. The futures market and cash prices are higher than any of us ever really dared to dream before. So, it's going to be a really fun time. It's the payoff that the guys that were stubborn and determined enough to stay in the cow business have been waiting for and so it's very good!"
The grass is far greener now than it was in June, which is uncommon.
When it comes to the pastures, dugouts and hay supply for winter southwest Manitoba fared better than many other parts of the province, such as the Interlake region which has continued to be a challenge for grain and cattle producers throughout the summer.
Munroe admits May and June were challenging with a dry start to the season for the Westman Region.
"We did not get the rains to make a really good first cut of hay. Pastures were slow getting started off. You know, it looked scary by the end of June what we were going be in for. But fortunately, down here we just started getting timely rains, and good rains, and you know the crops have filled out excellent," explains Munroe. "The pastures have held on. The grass is far greener now than it was in June, which is uncommon. And the corn looks absolutely amazing. So, it's very positive. It certainly didn't look like that's the summer we would get earlier on, but it's certainly what we ended up getting."
Munroe says the continuous rise in cattle futures is simple Economics 101, with high demand of a strong and affordable product and the number of cattle producers that is slowly dwindling.
"We've had a number of people across Canada and US exiting the business. We do have an older demographic of cattle farmers out there and some are starting to retire," he explains. "You know, we've had years and years of positive grain prices and it's been a struggle for the cattle guy up until a few years ago. So, the incentive hasn't been there."
"So, people have either retired or they've switched over to strictly grain farming," he adds. "So, now the cow numbers are down to the lowest level they've been in decades, and there's strong demand. While beef prices may be high, they're still affordable. You can still buy a pound of hamburger very reasonably and it's tremendously nutritious. So, as long as the demand can stay up, the numbers, the supply is down, so that's how Economics 101 works."
With these strong market prices, Munroe is expecting their first sale, scheduled for Monday, September 8th, to be one of the largest right from the get-go. Another factor that will contribute to the expected larger sales this fall is the unfortunate closing of the Heartland Livestock yard in Brandon.
"Heartland Brandon has been a flagship in the province for decades. So, it's it is unfortunate, and you know we're not jumping up and down for joy. We're losing a market in Manitoba and that doesn't make me happy," says Munroe.
With one less stockyard in southwest Manitoba, cattle producers will be looking to other options.
"So, it is going to be more important now than ever to get your calves booked in, your cows booked in, so we can manage our sales and do the best possible job for everyone," he shares. "You know, if we can't control our numbers and do the job we need to do, no one wins. So, I really ask the producers to make sure to call well ahead, get their calves booked in."
"We will put sales on as needed if we get backed up, but we're going to do the absolute best job we can to market these calves. So, we need your help to do that, and we look forward to the fall run."
The September 8th sale promises to be a busy one in the ring, says Munroe.
"We've got 240 yearling steers from one producer coming in. That's a heck of a way to start the sale off in the season. There's going to be a number of cows come in and you know some of those plainer cows with late calves or that guys are going to ove out. So, we're going to start reasonably busy."
"It looks like we're going to hit the ground running this September!"
Visit Killarney Auction Mart Facebook page HERE! and website HERE killarneyauctionmart.ca
3/4 mile South of # 3 & # 18, Killarney MB R0K 1G0
