ONT Farm Market News PM Livestock Summary for July 1 * From the Beef Farmers of Ontario, the weekly beef commentary: Comments for the week ending June 29, 2022: Lighter receipts this week are due to the Canada Day Holiday shortening this weeks data by one business day. 306 fed steers and heifers sold through auction markets this week, down 211 head from last week and 257 fewer than this time last year. Fed steers sold from $176.96-$193.21, with a weekly weighted average price of $187.57, down $3.31 from last week but $27.09 stronger than year ago prices. Fed heifers sold from $168.40-$193.38, averaging $185.52, down $3.00 from last week but $26.59 stronger than this time last year. Auction markets reported trade as active at steady prices, with quality considered. The Ontario railgrade market was fairly quiet to start with limited trade at the beginning of the week at $320.00 dressed for steers and $319.00 for heifers with delivery in one week and one packer not bidding. By Tuesday, packer interest improved but prices declined $2.00 cwt with steers trading at $318.00 dressed and heifers at $317.00 cwt with delivery the weeks of July 11th and July 18th. Sales on Wednesday were steady at $318.00 for steers and $317.00 for heifers with delivery the week of July 18th. Overall average prices this week were down $1.00 from last week but $49.00 above this time last year. The Boxed Beef Report by Kevin Grier notes last weeks overview: Consumer beef demand typically peaks in June. Contrary to what many say, however, the summer does not really go through dog days. June demand is best but seasonal demand remains strong from July through October. As such, while it is not reasonable to expect that demand can stay as vigorous as last year, especially with gas prices as they are, demand should still be supportive in the coming weeks. With regard to the cutout, however, it does start to slide normally from June through July. Both big Alberta packers put in a Saturday last week. Cargill in Guelph continues to run tight, with Monday through Thursday at a slim 1,700 and only 1,000 on Friday. Lower volumes of fed/cull cows sold through auction markets this week at 1,517 head, down 539 from last week and 182 fewer than this time last year. Cows sold from $93.61-$131.93 averaging $111.06 up $0.72 from last weeks weighted average price and $27.48 stronger than year ago prices. Auction markets reported strong active trading across the board with prices anywhere from higher to sharply higher, up $2.00-$6.00 cwt with top quality at a premium. One market noted prices easier than last week mid week and the market ended this reporting period steady to $4.00 stronger. Beef cows this week averaged $118.19 up $2.42 from the previous week with year to date volumes sold through actions up 12.2% from this time last year and 8.4% more than in 2020. 1,987 stocker and feeder cattle sold through auction markets up 160 from last week and 545 fewer than last year at this time. Auction markets reported trade as active with prices holding steady on all classes with quality considered. By Wednesday, trade was reported as stronger on heavier steers. Actual average prices this week saw steers 500-600 lbs up $1.78 from the previous week on average, 600-700 lbs down $8.87, 700- 800 lbs up $8.92, 800-900 lbs up $0.37, 900-1000 lbs up $10.28 and steers 1000 lbs plus averaged $3.57 higher than last weeks weighted average prices. Heifers from 500-600 lbs were down $7.81 on average, 600-700 lbs down $0.61, 700-800 lbs down $9.57, 800-900 lbs down $2.40 and heifers 900 lbs plus averaged $7.33 easier than last week. The Quebec electronic market this week ranged from $307.00-$310.00 cwt dressed on a picked up basis, down $3.27 cwt from last week on average. Alberta direct trade this week was light on Wednesday with prices steady to $2.00 cwt easier than last week notes Canfax, at $292.00 delivered on a dressed basis. Canfax reports: Some cattle that traded this week would not be picked up until the middle of August. US packer interest on the Western Canadian cash market has been quiet so far. This week there were premiums being paid if cattle graded over 70% AAA. Sale volumes are shaping up to be very light, it would not be surprising if a large percentage of this weeks cash offering was carried into next week. The U.S. cash cattle trade the week ending June 24th was mixed with steady to lower trade in the south while the north was stronger. Trade in the south was mainly $137.00-$138.00 live, steady to $1.00-$2.00 easier than the previous week while live trade in the north ranged from $146.00- $152.00, steady to a touch stronger. The largest increase this week was the dressed trade in the north ranging from $230.00-$240.00 cwt. The north, with tighter supplies, is at an $8.00 premium to the south which has resulted in some southern cattle heading to northern packers. Overall average prices this week saw steers at $144.55 live up $0.88 from the previous week while live heifers averaged $141.88 down $0.66. Dressed deals averaged $235.22 up $5.49 on average while dressed heifers were up $7.20 from the previous week at $237.17. In the U.S. this week the cattle trade saw a few scattered deals in the south late Monday from $137.00-$140.00 live, $1.00 easier to fully steady to last week, but not enough sold to establish a market trend. Tuesday, a light test in the south was noted at prices $1.00 easier to fully steady to last week from $137.00-$138.00 live while a few deals in the north were noted from $144.00-$148.00 live which is steady to slightly easier than last weeks northern trade. A couple of dressed deals were also barely steady at $234.00 but not enough sold to establish a market. Wednesday, trade was light in the south and moderate in the north with prices steady to softer. Business in south was from $137.00-$138.00 live, mainly $138.00 which is steady in Texas but steady to $1.00 softer in Kansas. In the north live trade ranged from $145.00-$151.00, steady to stronger, while dressed deals were from $230.00-$239.00, mainly $234.00 which is barely steady to $2.00 easier than last week's weighted average prices. Jamie Gamble - Beef Farmers of Ontarios market information report.