Three stories stand out today: Canada’s cattle herd is growing again, Quebec’s corn and soybean crops are shaping up well, and new provincial rules on local slaughter take effect this week.
Canada’s cattle herd grows after several years of contraction
According to estimates released by Statistics Canada on August 24, Canadian farms held 12.1 million cattle and calves on July 1, 2026, up 3.2% from one year earlier. Feeder cattle, slaughter cattle and calf prices had reached record highs during the first half of the year.
The same report counted 14.0 million hogs, up 0.6% from July 1, 2025. The sheep breeding herd increased by 0.3% to 629,500 head.
My view: this is a strong rebound in Canada’s cattle herd. If beef prices hold after the 90-day period during which the United States is easing access for ground beef imports, Canadian producers could find themselves in a favourable position. The question is whether that temporary window will have any lasting effect on prices or whether the market will remain tight enough to support this recovery.
This ties directly into my analysis published this morning on the 300,000 tonnes of beef the United States plans to bring in over 90 days.
Read Statistics Canada’s livestock estimates
A very good corn and soybean harvest is taking shape in Quebec
As harvest approaches, several field-crop advisers interviewed by La Terre de chez nous expect a good, and in some areas very good, corn and soybean crop across Quebec. Overall yield potential is viewed as slightly above average, despite some regional variability and localized issues such as dry conditions and sclerotinia.
My view: it is always good news when we are told to expect strong harvests. The next question is what crops will look like across the rest of North America and, above all, whether prices will be there. Good yields alone do not guarantee a good year if abundant production across the continent puts downward pressure on markets.
Read the report from La Terre de chez nous
Local slaughter: the new rules take effect this week
Quebec’s amendments to the Food Regulation take effect on August 29. The changes were already explained in detail in the August 15 agricultural news review. Among other changes, producers will be able to more easily market meat at retail from their own animals slaughtered at a local slaughterhouse, subject to the applicable permits and requirements. The rules also provide more flexibility for the layout of robotic milking systems.
My view: this is positive news. By making local sales easier, these changes can help stimulate local economies and allow producers who choose this model to capture a little more income directly from what they produce.
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