(Dave Bedard photo)

ICE weekly outlook: Canola watching currency, soybeans

CNS Canada — ICE Futures Canada canola contracts posted small gains during a choppy trading week ended Wednesday. Values were under pressure from the start due to a sharp break below major chart support on Feb. 9. Expectations of a large soybean crop from South America along with the ever-strengthening Canadian dollar put pressure on […] Read more

Averaged sea surface temperatures and sea surface temperature anomalies worldwide for the week centred on Feb. 3. (CPC.ncep.noaa.gov)

Timing of La Nina to play key role in Prairie moisture

CNS Canada –– As the El Nino weather phenomena slowly loosens its grip across Western Canada, many weather watchers say its impact has been somewhat underwhelming. However, one meteorologist said its lingering presence, coupled with the pending arrival of the La Nina weather event, may still play a large role in determining how much moisture […] Read more


(Fertilizer Safety and Security Council)

Fertilizer expected to be pricier by springtime

CNS Canada –– Relatively cheap natural gas has helped push down fertilizer prices for Canadian farmers over the past winter, but that should change by springtime. One Manitoba farm leader noted urea fertilizer that went for $545 per tonne last August could now be acquired for $445 per tonne. “Phosphate fertilizer was going for $721 […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

StatsCan stocks numbers confirm rapid export pace

CNS Canada — Canada’s grain and oilseed exports appear to be in fine form, based on the latest stocks figures on Thursday morning from Statistics Canada. Stocks of wheat, canola and oats are all down compared to last year’s. In wheat’s case, there were roughly five million fewer tonnes in farmers’ bins at the end […] Read more


(FlaxCouncil.ca)

Potential for fewer flax acres seen this year

CNS Canada — While area seeded to flax in Canada has been increasing over the past four years, that upward momentum may halt in 2016-17. Flax’s cost of production is higher than many of its rivals and the growing lustre of pulse crops could cut into some acres, according to one industry watcher. “It’s too […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

CP cuts raise worry over potential slowdown

CNS Canada –– Canadian Pacific Railway’s decision to cut 1,000 jobs has caught the attention of two Prairie farm leaders. Norm Hall, president of Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, worries the move is short-sighted and may catch up with the railway in months and years to come, when commodity prices catch fire again. “You dump […] Read more


(Country Guide file photo)

Lower loonie helps farmers, but only so much

CNS Canada — The slumping price of oil continues to weigh on the Canadian dollar, while at the same time providing a boost to Canadian grain prices. Out-of-country buyers tend to more attracted to Canadian grain and wheat when the loonie is low, as they can get more product for their money. However, one market […] Read more

(Lisa Guenther photo)

CBOT weekly outlook: Corn stays within range

CNS Canada –– Chicago Board of Trade corn futures stayed mostly range-bound for the week ended Wednesday; the corn market ebbed and flowed with crude oil and ideas of demand. However, it also felt technical pressure, according to Sean Lusk, a co-director at the commercial hedging services division of Walsh Trading in Chicago. “Corn keeps […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

ICE weekly outlook: Canola posts gains as loonie plunges

CNS Canada — ICE Futures Canada canola contracts advanced during the week ended Wednesday, on the back of currency action that made the commodity more desirable to international buyers. “This Canadian dollar has really helped out exports to China, Japan, Pakistan and Mexico,” said Wayne Palmer of Agri-Trend Marketing in Winnipeg. The loonie continued to […] Read more

(Country Guide file photo)

Prairie spring wheat bids move higher

CNS Canada –– Cash spring wheat bids across Western Canada moved higher during the week ended Friday, as U.S. futures also rose during that timeframe. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat prices were up by C$9-$10 per tonne during the period, according to price quotes from a cross-section of delivery points across the Prairie […] Read more