(Thinkstock photo)

Prairie cash wheat: Peace talks, USDA report pull on wheat futures

MarketsFarm — While peace prospects in Ukraine brought pressure onto wheat futures early on, a U.S. Department of Agriculture report caused the prices for two major western Canadian wheat varieties to close at different levels for the week ended Thursday. On the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT), wheat futures declined when talks between Russia and […] Read more

AFSC used this photo when tweeting on social media about its rate announcement for this year. The ominous look mirrors the financial news — premiums up 37 per cent or more, and its once-vaunted reserve fund slashed by $2 billion.

Premiums soar after crop insurer hit by $2.7-billion loss

Higher crop prices are driving a big part of the 37 per cent (or higher) hike, but drought hit hard, too

Reading Time: 4 minutes The cost of annual crop insurance is soaring by an average of more than 37 per cent this year — and many farmers could be facing an even higher bill. “An average 1,500-acre Alberta farm growing a mixture of crops will see increased premium costs of approximately 54 per cent for annual insurance and hail […] Read more


(Thinkstock photo)

Prairie cash wheat: Spring wheat nudges higher, durum dips

MarketsFarm — Wheat prices on the Prairies during the week ended Friday saw moderate gains in Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) and Canada Prairie Spring Red (CPSR) wheats while Canada Western Amber Durum (CWAD) eased slightly. The war in Ukraine continued to play havoc in the markets. After strong increases at the start of the […] Read more

(Thinkstock photo)

Prairie cash wheat: Bids rise in choppy activity

U.S. wheat futures up on week overall

MarketsFarm — Spring wheat bids across Western Canada moved higher during the week ended Thursday, although the uncertain situation in Ukraine saw some wide price swings in U.S. wheat futures. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS, 13.5 per cent protein) wheat prices were up by $11.30-$16.30 per tonne, according to price quotes from a cross-section […] Read more


This might be the sight from your tractor cab one day — barren trees, the odd bit of snow, and wheat seed going into the ground a month or so earlier than you ever imagined. This photo was taken on Gould Ranching on April 6 of last year and despite three snowfalls afterwards, would emerge lush and green.

How early can you go? Ultra-early seeding is pushing the boundaries

Some farmers are convinced seeding at the start of April or even weeks earlier is a winning strategy

Reading Time: 7 minutes While other farmers are still counting down the days until they can start seeding, Matthew and Farley Gould will already be out on their fields, getting it done. Last year, the brothers started seeding spring wheat nearly a month before their neighbours — and they plan to be “even more aggressive this year.” “We were […] Read more

(Thinkstock photo)

Prairie cash wheat: Russia-Ukraine conflict fuels price rallies

U.S. wheat futures way up on week

MarketsFarm — Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine has not only sparked a conflict between two of the world’s major wheat exporters, but also limit-up price rallies for wheat futures during the week ended Thursday. As sanctions grow against Russia, as well as uncertainty over access to Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea, fears of a […] Read more


(Thinkstock photo)

Prairie cash wheat: Spring wheat bids higher, activity choppy

MarketsFarm — Spring wheat bids across Western Canada moved higher during the week ended Thursday as gains in U.S. futures and a weaker tone in the Canadian dollar provided support. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine contributed to gains in wheat futures, but the volatile situation led to large price swings in the markets with values backing […] Read more

(Thinkstock photo)

Prairie cash wheat: Red spring up, durum pulls back

U.S. wheat futures up on week

MarketsFarm — Wheat prices on the Prairies during the week ended Thursday saw increases for Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) and Canada Prairie Spring Red (CPSR) and declines for durum (CWAD). The Russia-Ukraine border crisis spurred a good part of the increases in U.S. wheat markets. The ongoing threat of war could harm wheat production […] Read more


(Thinkstock photo)

Prairie cash wheat: Bids rally on tightening supplies, drought

U.S. March wheat futures gain on week

MarketsFarm — New supply data from both sides of the Canada/U.S. border, as well as ongoing drought in wheat growing regions, have supported western Canadian wheat bids for the week ended Thursday. The U.S. Department of Agriculture released its monthly supply/demand estimates on Wednesday and cut its projected global wheat supply estimate for the 2021-22 […] Read more

(Thinkstock photo)

Prairie cash wheat: Bids mixed amid conflicting influences

MarketsFarm — Wheat bids across Western Canada were mixed during the week ended Thursday, as losses in U.S. futures were countered by the supportive influence of a weaker Canadian dollar. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS, 13.5 per cent protein) wheat prices were down by $7.60-$11.60 per tonne, according to price quotes from a cross-section […] Read more