CNS Canada — Pea acreage in Western Canada could rise by five to 10 per cent this year, according to one industry expert, who notes root rot threatens to curtail that projection. Demand from India, China and Bangladesh is strong and that means total pea area could hit four million acres, said Carl Potts, executive […] Read more

Pea growers weigh demand opportunities against root rot

CBOT weekly: Corn, soy look to test post-report floors, ceilings
CNS Canada — Chicago Board of Trade corn and soybean futures saw choppy activity over the past week as traders had spent much of the period positioning themselves ahead of the release of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s prospective plantings report. That choppiness is expected to continue as the market digests the report’s data and […] Read more

Diesel prices expected to see pressure in second quarter
CNS Canada — The spring thaw may bring lower diesel prices to farmers in North America, according to a New Jersey-based oil expert. “A lot of new refining, worldwide, is coming on for diesel,” said Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst at the Oil Price Information Service. Compared to other fuels such as gasoline or jet […] Read more

Feed barley bids rangebound in Western Canada
CNS Canada –– Prairie feed barley prices continue to hang tough in March, locked into a range established early this year. “We’re seeing a lot of bids in and around $205” per tonne, said Allen Pirness, a trader for Market Place Commodities at Lethbridge. Bids had been hitting around $210 per tonne, for example, on […] Read more

Ammonium sulphate seen tougher to find, afford
CNS Canada — A shortfall in production seems to have made granular ammonium sulphate, the prime fertilizer used by canola growers in Western Canada, relatively scarce just weeks away from seeding. “Last year (it was) $470 a tonne, now it’s $525 a tonne; if you can get it. Those were the words from my supplier,” […] Read more

CBOT weekly: Bullish U.S. dollar seen pinning grain futures
CNS Canada — Chicago Board of Trade corn and soybean futures remained largely unchanged over the past week but a bullish U.S. dollar, currently outperforming many of the world’s other currencies, will keep the long-term bias pointed lower, according to a U.S. analyst. “We’re going to need a weather event, we’re going to need a […] Read more

Red varieties driving lentil acreage increase
CNS Canada — As Canada’s remaining old-crop lentils shuffle off to buyers overseas, interest is building in the potential for new crop in 2015. Chuck Penner of LeftField Commodity Research in Winnipeg said he expects more acres will be planted this spring as a result of the strong interest. “Oh, there’ll definitely be more; the […] Read more

Mild Prairie temperatures not expected to last
CNS Canada — Despite recent mild temperatures that are forecast to hang around the Canadian Prairies for the next week, a weather expert says a colder bias will return during the latter stages of the month. “It will take a while for it to come back, but it will come back,” said Drew Lerner of […] Read more

ICE weekly outlook: Canola testing major support
CNS Canada — ICE Futures Canada canola contracts were lower for the week ended Wednesday, as continued losses in soybeans, and technical factors, weighed on canola values. The spillover weakness from soybeans was pronounced, according to analyst Wayne Palmer of Agri-Trend Marketing in Winnipeg, who noted beans were 40 cents off their nearby highs. The […] Read more

Rail problems continue as Prairie ag groups tackle CTA review
CNS Canada — Better data, equitable service regardless of where you live and service contracts with teeth are just some of the ideas being tossed around by Prairie farm leaders taking part in the Canadian Transportation Act review. “Producers want to see equitable service for everyone,” said Norm Hall, chairman of the Agricultural Producers Association […] Read more