The economic parallels from the COVID-19 epidemic are quickly changing from comparisons to the recent financial crisis in 2008-09 to the Great Depression. My parents and grandparents lived through the Depression and it did have many impacts on their everyday lives. The main symbol of the Depression-era mentality was the two enormous chest freezers in […] Read more
Burnett on Markets: Global grain stocks offer false sense of food security
In event of production shortfall, 60 per cent of available stocks would never be available to market
Burnett on Markets: Weather woes span the Prairies
The weather during the last half of March provided some optimism about a normal start to spring. Farmers across the Prairies were preparing equipment, taking delivery of seed and fertilizer and looking forward to getting out into the field. Then the weather in early April dropped significant amounts of rain and snow across northern and […] Read more
U.S. projects wheat acres at record lows, increases for soy, corn
Grain stocks as of March 1 down on year
MarketsFarm — As with last year, total wheat acres in the United States are projected to remain at all-time lows, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The department issued its prospective plantings estimates Tuesday. MarketsFarm director of markets and weather Bruce Burnett called USDA’s wheat and soybean estimates positive, while he said its […] Read more
Burnett on Markets: Home flour use soars during pandemic
That's led to increased demand for milling wheat -- at least temporarily
It is hard to miss the lack of flour in the grocery aisles lately as consumers stock up on the “essentials.” A number of stores are just rolling out the pallets of flour into the store and they are picked clean by the end of the day. The increased domestic use of flour does not […] Read more
Burnett on Markets: Suddenly agriculture is important
COVID-19 is putting food security in the spotlight
MarketsFarm — A trend has developed in the business news channels over the past week that has not been hard to miss. Suddenly the CEOs of big agriculture and food concerns are being featured front and centre during the business segments. Usually these companies are noted only when they release quarterly results and even then […] Read more
Big changes unlikely in next USDA report
MarketsFarm — Ahead of the next supply and demand report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, several firms have issued estimates for U.S. corn and soybean yields. USDA is scheduled to release its next world agriculture supply and demand estimates (WASDE) Thursday at 11 a.m. CT. The report will help set the tone for commodities […] Read more
StatsCan’s canola forecast deemed supportive
CNS Canada — A summer of dryness and sizzling heat has apparently taken its toll on canola plants in many areas of Western Canada, according to the latest crop production estimate from Statistics Canada. In a survey compiled in the latter days of July and released Friday, Statistics Canada pegged canola production for 2018-19 at […] Read more
Questions remain over heat’s impact on 2018 yields
CNS Canada — Harvest came early for some crops in Western Canada this year. A few canola crops in Manitoba are already in the bin as warm temperatures and a lack of rain helped growers hit the fields quicker than other years. However, a hot and mostly dry summer on the Prairies has left many […] Read more
StatsCan’s model-based estimates confirm larger crops
CNS Canada — Canadian canola and wheat production likely ended up larger than earlier estimates, according to computer model-based data released Tuesday by Statistics Canada. The model-based estimates are calculated by incorporating satellite data, agro-climate data, and Statistics Canada’s field crop reporting data. The numbers compare with the survey of farmers released Aug. 31. Total […] Read more
StatsCan production survey timing likely to skew results
CNS Canada — Production of Canada’s major crops is generally expected to be down on the year after an adverse growing season in many areas. However, actual production may not end up as low as the estimates set to be released by Statistics Canada on Thursday, due to the timing of the survey. The survey […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
