ICE January 2021 canola with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: Canola stronger at midweek

MarketsFarm — ICE Futures canola contracts were stronger on Wednesday, making up losses incurred earlier in the week. The nearby January contract closed Wednesday at $545.80 per tonne, gaining over $10 since closing at $534.90 on Monday. Record-high temperatures in parts of the Prairies were part of the reason behind canola’s rally. However, temperatures are […] Read more

The USDA building in Washington, D.C. (Art Wager/iStock/Getty Images)

CBOT weekly outlook: Eyes on U.S. election, next supply and demand report

MarketsFarm — With no final results yet Wednesday in the U.S. presidential election, there has been very little, if any, effect on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT), according to Allendale Inc. president Steve Georgy. “For the grain markets there hasn’t been a higher impact yet, but it is rather quiet,” he said from McHenry, […] Read more


CME December 2020 live cattle with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures trim back on election uncertainty

Pork fundamentals still bearish on hogs

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live and feeder cattle futures fell on Tuesday in a round of profit-taking ahead of an uncertain U.S. presidential election, analysts said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange December live cattle futures settled 0.725 cent lower at 107.825 cents/lb., after rising in each the last five sessions (all figures US$). CME feeder cattle […] Read more

CBOT January 2021 soybeans with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybean futures climb on export optimism

'No matter who's president, China still needs to feed their hog herd'

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybean futures climbed on Tuesday on export optimism and a slower-than-expected U.S. harvest pace, traders said. Wheat firmed as traders monitored dryness in U.S. and Russian growing belts, while corn traded higher on continued hopes of China buying. The most-active soybean contract on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) settled […] Read more



(Lightguard/iStock/Getty Images)

Saskatchewan agriculture minister cruises to election win

NDP's ag critic trailing, with mail-in votes still to come

Another incumbent agriculture minister easily held his seat as Saskatchewan’s governing Saskatchewan Party scored another decisive majority in Monday’s provincial election. David Marit, MLA for the southwestern riding of Wood River since 2016, held his seat by a spread of 5,177 votes over the New Democrats’ challenger, teacher Roger Morgan, with 459 mail-in ballots remaining […] Read more


Lana Popham. (B.C. NDP via Flickr, license at Creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)

B.C. ag minister, critic expected to win re-election

NDP projected to form majority government

British Columbia’s incumbent agriculture minister and opposition ag critic both appear set to head back to the provincial legislature as the New Democrats are projected to end three years of tentative minority governing. John Horgan’s NDP, which in 2017 overturned a minority Liberal government with the help of the Green Party, was projected Saturday evening […] Read more

A guest looks at their corn cob-themed tie signed by U.S. President Donald Trump during a signing ceremony for the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on Jan. 29, 2020. (Photo: Reuters/Leah Millis)

Trump’s payments to farmers hit all-time high ahead of election

Canadian growers seek level playing field

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. President Donald Trump is assuring a bumper year for farmers as the Nov. 3 election approaches, with record government subsidies projected to make up more than a third of farm income in 2020. The aid programs could be key to Trump’s chances of success in swing states such as Wisconsin, […] Read more


New Brunswick’s new agriculture minister, Margaret Johnson. (Facebook)

Rookie MLA named New Brunswick ag minister

Blaine Higgs' Tories sworn in as majority government

A politically-active retired New Brunswick schoolteacher is the province’s new minister for agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries. Premier Blaine Higgs, whose new Progressive Conservative cabinet was sworn in Tuesday in Fredericton, appointed Margaret Johnson, the newly elected MLA for the northwestern electoral district of Carleton-Victoria, to handle the ag and fisheries files. In last month’s provincial […] Read more

Ross Wetmore. (Video screengrab from NBPCCaucus via YouTube)

New Brunswick returns ag minister, ag critic in election

Liberals' former ag minister among casualties

New Brunswick’s incumbent agriculture minister and opposition ag critic are among those returning to the legislative assembly as the provincial Tories locked in a governing majority. As of 9 p.m. CT Monday, incumbent Premier Blaine Higgs’ Progressive Conservatives, who went into the vote with a 22-seat minority government, were elected in 27 of 49 ridings. […] Read more