Reading Time: 4 minutes Spring has been warmer than usual this year, making rain even more important. In the semi-arid Prairies, soils that hold some of winter’s meltwater may give emerging crops a good start but the finish is up to the water delivered by seasonal rainfall. Crop physiology depends on it. “Water is the key ingredient when it […] Read more
The fine balance of soil moisture
It’s a complex interplay that will always require rainfall in the semi-arid Prairies
Prairie Forecast: Big change in weather pattern
Issued July 5, covering July 5-12
Most people have been saying that June felt like July and the weather statistics agreed. Well, if the weather models are correct, it’s looking like July will feel more like June — at least for the next forecast period. Here is the big picture before we dive into the details for each of the three […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat surges on slow harvesting, poor crop conditions
Corn hits 2-1/2-year low and ends mixed, soy mostly firm
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures surged on Wednesday as slow winter wheat harvesting and deteriorating spring crop conditions fuelled buying and short covering that lifted prices from 2-1/2-week lows. The wheat rally pulled corn up from 2-1/2-year lows despite expanded plantings and recent rains that lessened concerns about drought-reduced yields. Soybeans firmed on […] Read more
Strike continues at West Coast ports as employers exit talks
Results unlikely through bargaining now, BCMEA says
A strike by longshore workers at British Columbia’s West Coast ports is expected to continue after the employers’ group announced plans to step away from further bargaining. The B.C. Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA), in a statement Monday, said it’s “of the view that a continuation of bargaining at this time is not going to produce […] Read more
Russia rejects bank compromise as Black Sea grain deal expiry looms
Collapse of deal could aggravate global food crisis
Reuters — Russia on Tuesday restated a demand for its state agricultural bank to be reconnected to the global SWIFT payments system to avert the collapse of the Black Sea grain deal, and said it would not accept a reported compromise proposal. With 13 days remaining until the expiry of the deal, which has allowed […] Read more
Dry, hot Canadian summer expected
Normal precip expected for Ontario, Quebec
MarketsFarm — Warmer-than-normal temperatures are expected across all of Canada for the next three months, with average precipitation in most of the agricultural areas of the Prairies. That’s according to the latest long-range seasonal forecast from Environment Canada, released Friday. The government department calls for a 50-70 per cent chance of above-normal temperatures from July […] Read more
EU seen weighing concession to Russian bank over Black Sea deal
New arm of ag bank could connect to SWIFT
Reuters — The European Union is considering a proposal for the Russian Agricultural Bank to set up a subsidiary to reconnect to the global financial network as a sop to Moscow, the Financial Times said on Monday. With the bank under sanctions, the move aims to safeguard the Black Sea grain deal that allows Ukraine […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans rally on supply worries
Plantings weigh on corn; CBOT wheat also falls
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) soybean futures on Monday rallied for a second consecutive session, following a shockingly low plantings estimate from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Friday. Corn futures eased at the start of this holiday-shortened week, remaining at a 2-1/2 year low, on choppy technical trading, traders […] Read more
Prairie Forecast Update: Low lingers in Manitoba
Issued July 2, covering July 3 to 5
The overall forecast remains on track across both Alberta and Saskatchewan, so only a small update is needed for Manitoba. Across Manitoba, the area of low pressure that has been tracking across the northern half of the Prairie provinces is now forecasted to take a little longer to exit this region. The two main impacts […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soy soars after USDA slashes plantings estimate
CBOT corn dives, wheat follows; soyoil runs limit-up
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures surged about six per cent on Friday after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported much lower-than-expected 2023 soy plantings and June 1 inventories, while corn futures tumbled on larger-than-expected acreage. Wheat futures fell in sympathy with corn, despite a smaller-than-expected quarterly wheat stocks figure. On the Chicago […] Read more
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