Crops
Chicago | Reuters – U.S. corn and soybean futures declined on Monday, pressured by beneficial weekend rains in the Corn Belt and spillover weakness from outside commodity markets including crude oil and gold, analysts said. Wheat followed the weaker trend, with a firmer dollar adding to bearish sentiment. Chicago Board of Trade December corn settled […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn, soy retreat on U.S. rains, broad declines in commodities
Drought-battered producers facing another crisis — contract penalties
Deadly combo of crop failures and sky-high prices leave some facing huge penalties on unfulfilled contracts
Reading Time: 5 minutes The drought is squeezing producers from all sides, with many facing another calamity — not having enough crop to fulfil their grain contracts. “There are issues because the drought is so widespread,” said Jason Saunders, vice-chair of Alberta Wheat and a dryland farmer from near Taber. “There was aggressive forward contracting on canola and old-crop […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: DDGs becoming another feed option
MarketsFarm – As traditional feed grains such as barley and wheat become more expensive due to persistent drought-like conditions in the Prairies, many feedlots are using alternative sources of feed for their animals. Dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGs), the grain by-products which remain after starch has been fermented through the making of alcohol or […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans climb on exports, end week lower
Chicago | Reuters – Chicago soybean futures gained on Friday after a second day of fresh export sales buoyed demand prospects, though forecasts for rain across the U.S. Midwest through the weekend capped gains. Corn was little changed while wheat added as harvest setbacks in North America, Russia and Western Europe raised concern over tightening […] Read more
Crop quality has been a steep, fast downward plunge
Reading Time: 2 minutes The crop report from Alberta Agriculture in late July was — not surprisingly — dismal. But the speed of the deterioration of crop quality was nevertheless noteworthy. “Only 20 per cent of the annual crops (are) good or excellent,” it said in its end-of-July report. “This represents a 17-point drop in the last two weeks […] Read more
Sask. Crop Report: Harvests ahead of schedule
MarketsFarm – The annual harvest in Saskatchewan is moving along earlier and faster than usual as crops dry down to high heat and lack of moisture. Three per cent of Saskatchewan’s crop has been combined, compared to the less than one per cent at this point last year, according to the province’s crop report for […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn, soy firm on demand strength
Chicago | Reuters – Chicago corn and soybeans climbed on Thursday on stronger export sales, though gains were capped by rainfall across parts of the U.S. Midwest. Wheat traded near even before ending slightly lower, supported by firmer grains complex and distressed crops across North America. The market also awaits the U.S. Department of Agriculture monthly […] Read more
Forage research gets long-awaited boost
Reading Time: < 1 minute Forage research will get a much-needed boost with the creation of a new research position at the University of Saskatchewan. “A 2012 assessment concluded lack of research and development investment in the Canadian forage industry meant advances in forage had not kept pace with developments in other crops,” the Beef Cattle Research Council said in […] Read more
Millers, bakers fret as drought withers North America’s spring wheat
Reuters – Millers and bakers are draining wheat reserves and paying more for spring wheat used in baking, as drought shrivels crops across the Canadian Prairies and northern U.S. Plains that produce more than half of the world’s supply. U.S. and Canadian farmers are bracing for a sharply smaller spring wheat harvest due to the […] Read more
ICE weekly outlook: Volatility expected in canola markets
MarketsFarm – The ICE Futures canola market saw some large price moves during the week ended Aug. 4, hitting their lowest levels in a month as investors booked profits before recovering to hold relatively range-bound overall. More choppiness is expected over the next few weeks, as the market waits to get a better handle on […] Read more