MarketsFarm — Canadian canola stocks were slightly tighter at the end of the 2019 calendar year compared to the previous year, according to updated Statistics Canada data. However, adverse harvest conditions left a large amount of the crop unaccounted for in the survey, which skews the overall supply/demand outlook. “Because of poor weather conditions during […] Read more
Unharvested crops skew StatsCan stocks data
Zimbabwe says grain stocks running out after drought
Harare | Reuters — Zimbabwe has only 100,000 tonnes of grain in its strategic reserves, enough to last just over a month, as the southern African nation suffers the effects of a severe drought, according to the agriculture minister. More than half the country’s population faces food shortages after maize harvests halved last year. The […] Read more
Green Party backs grain drying exemption from carbon tax
One of the federal opposition parties in full favour of carbon pricing is lending its support to calls by farm groups for a carbon tax break for grain drying. Vancouver Island MP Paul Manly, the Green Party’s caucus critic for agriculture, announced the party’s position Monday. “We support the grain producers of Canada in their […] Read more
Prairie provinces react to Bibeau’s questions on carbon price impact
Ottawa — The Saskatchewan and Manitoba governments continue attempts to convince the federal government’s carbon pricing program puts farmers at a disadvantage. Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau recently suggested the carbon pricing system may not be disadvantaging farmers, questioning the impact of carbon pricing on agriculture, but saying she will continue to seek out more […] Read more
U.S. grains: Prices narrowly mixed as traders assess Mideast risk
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybean and grain futures were narrowly mixed on Wednesday as traders’ jitters eased after Iran and the United States signalled a de-escalation of tensions after an Iranian missile attack against U.S. forces in Iraq. Investors also continued to square positions ahead of a key U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) crop […] Read more
A normal crop year went out the window in 2019
It seems pretty much everyone had severe weather challenges this year, but they came in many forms
Reading Time: 5 minutes Weather always gets talked about, but usually there are other issues that mark the year gone by. But this was a year when the rain gauge and thermometer were front and central from spring to harvest. Or rather, what passed for harvest. With about 1.6 million acres of crops still in the field, the story […] Read more
Bad doesn’t begin to describe situation of unharvested fields
Reading Time: < 1 minute “Cleaning up the acres left out in the spring will be no small task.” So reads the provincial Ag Ministry’s final crop report of 2019. It estimates 10.4 per cent of crops are still in the field — on par with the dismal 2016 season (when 10.3 per cent was unharvested). But that number doesn’t […] Read more
CBOT weekly outlook: Trade awaits solid details on ‘Phase One’
MarketsFarm — While optimism towards the ‘Phase One’ trade deal between the U.S. and China has continued, its initial impact on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) has diminished, according to one trader. “I think the biggest thing is everyone is on hold wondering, is it real? The actual terms of this [agreement] are still […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Balance sheet tightening
MarketsFarm — Canadian pea and lentil production failed to live up to earlier projections, according to the latest survey data from Statistics Canada. While both crops are still forecast to be above their year-ago levels, the tightening supply expectations should underpin prices. Canada’s 2019-20 lentil crop was pegged at 2.17 million tonnes in the government […] Read more
Ask first — snowmobile later
In some parts of the province, there’s a 50-50 chance there’s an unharvested crop beneath the snow
Reading Time: 3 minutes With winter firmly in place and 40 to 60 per cent of crops still in the fields, the County of Grande Prairie has a message for winter recreation enthusiasts: If you’re going to snowmobile on farmers’ property, ask first. The county is issuing up to five free signs per farm urging people to get the […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
