Grain prices eat away at beef producers' profits

With barbecue season just around the corner, many Calgarians are looking forward to throwing a slab of Alberta beef on the grill. But out near Strathmore, feedlot owner Stuart Thiessen is chewing over a feeding dilemma of another sort. Due to soaring grain prices, it's costing Thiessen 54 per cent more to fatten his cattle this year, and that's chipping away at already flimsy profits, given lacklustre market prices.Stuart Thiessen of Namaka Farms Inc. says it's costing him 54 per cent more to feed his cattle this year, while beef prices have dropped.Ted Rhodes, Calgary Herald At the same time, there's ample supply of beef, domestic demand is holding its own, and industry experts say prices...