The USDA building in Washington, D.C. (Art Wager/iStock/Getty Images)

Record U.S. corn, soybean crops for 2023-24, USDA says

U.S., worldwide wheat ending stocks expected down on year

MarketsFarm — The United States may be in the midst of growing record-breaking corn and soybean crops if the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is correct. USDA on Friday released its monthly world agricultural supply/demand estimates (WASDE), which included its first U.S. production estimates for 2023-24. The report also provided ending stocks projections for new […] Read more

CBOT June 2023 soft red winter wheat with 20-day moving average, MGEX June 2023 hard red spring wheat (yellow line) and K.C. June 2023 hard red winter wheat (orange line). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: CBOT wheat gains on small harvest outlook

Corn, soybeans mostly lower

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures rose on Friday, with traders focused on forecasts for crop shortfalls in the drought-stricken U.S. Plains, while corn and soybeans were mostly lower on a government outlook for record-large harvests of both crops. K.C. hard red winter wheat futures posted the biggest gains, surging more than four per […] Read more



(Qingwa/iStock/Getty Images)

CBOT weekly outlook: Traders, analysts anticipate WASDE report

El Nino also worth watching longer-term

MarketsFarm — While traders and analysts continue to keep an eye on weather conditions, their collective focus will momentarily shift on Friday when the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) releases its monthly world agricultural supply/demand estimates (WASDE). This month’s report will be highly significant as it will announce the first U.S. crop production estimates for […] Read more



ICE July 2023 canola with 20- and 50-day moving averages. (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: Canola showing independent strength

Prairie weather uncertainty supportive

MarketsFarm — ICE Futures’ canola market saw some independent strength relative to other oilseeds during the week ended Wednesday, as speculative positioning and the need to ration tight old-crop supplies provided support. Canadian canola stocks as of March 31 were pegged at 5.95 million tonnes by Statistics Canada in a report released Tuesday. That was […] Read more


CBOT July 2023 corn with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: CBOT corn, soy, wheat fall on bearish weather

U.S. soy planting seen at near-record pace

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade corn and soybean futures dropped on Tuesday, under pressure from a fast pace of planting across key production areas of the U.S. Midwest and an outlook for good growing weather once seeding is finished, traders said. Soft red winter wheat futures also weakened, with the benchmark CBOT […] Read more

(File photo by Dave Bedard)

Canola fund short position grows

Funds also net short in U.S. wheats

MarketsFarm — The managed money net short position in canola grew in early May as fund traders were busy liquidating long positions and moving more money to the short side of the market, according to the latest Commitments of Traders report from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). As of May 2, the net […] Read more


CBOT July 2023 soybeans with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Chicago soy dips, corn flat as planting progresses

No agreement yet to extend Ukrainian export shipping

Mexico City | Reuters — Chicago soybeans ended down and corn was flat on Monday, as U.S. planting progressed ahead of last year and uncertainty over whether Ukraine’s safe shipping agreement for grain exports will be extended with the deal set to expire on May 18. Corn, one of the crops exported out of Ukraine, […] Read more

This winter rye field on John Kolk’s property has been strip-tilled in preparation for planting canola.

STRIP TILL: It’s new, it’s tricky and you can’t ask the neighbours for advice

On paper, strip-till is an excellent way to reduce erosion and improve soil health, but there’s a learning curve

Reading Time: 4 minutes Being a pioneer isn’t easy, but sometimes it can pay off. Or at least that’s what John Kolk hopes. Over the past few years the southern Alberta farmer has been using strip tillage on row crops such as dry beans, corn and soybeans. Although the system hasn’t been a big earner in terms of dollars […] Read more