Higher interest rates didn’t curb the appetite for farmland in the first half of the year but it could be a different story by year’s end.

The price of farmland is defying interest rate hikes – so far

Buyers still bid up land but latest figures don’t reflect full impact of higher lending rates

Reading Time: 3 minutes Despite significant interest rate hikes, the price of farmland kept shooting up in the first half of the year. Land prices jumped 5.9 per cent in Alberta in the first six months of 2022, according to the latest data from Farm Credit Canada, and that was smallest rise on the Prairies.  Prices were up an […] Read more



CBOT December 2022 wheat (candlesticks) with 20-day moving average (green line), MGEX December 2022 spring wheat (yellow line) and K.C. December 2022 hard red wheat (orange line). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat futures retreat after rally

Corn also weak, soy up off recent losses

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures fell on Thursday, settling back from a sharp rally a day earlier as investors weighed Russian criticism of a Ukrainian grain export deal against prospects of a slowing global economy, traders said. Corn futures also were weaker despite growing concerns about a disappointing U.S. harvest after dry weather […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canola Council of Canada)

Cash advances’ interest-free portion temporarily raised

APP funds now interest-free for first $250K

The federal government’s low-interest loan guarantee program for Canadian farmers will sweeten the interest-free portion of its offer for the next two program years to help with farm cash flow. Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau on Thursday announced a temporary increase in the interest-free portion of the Advance Payments Program to $250,000, up from the usual […] Read more


(Pabradyphoto/iStock/Getty Images)

CBOT weekly outlook: U.S. interest rate decision could shake futures

Heat in forecast keeping U.S. corn supported

MarketsFarm — Commodity prices on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) were certainly affected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) monthly supply/demand estimates released last Friday — but may be shaken again after the U.S. Federal Reserve decided to raise its key interest rate by 0.75 of a point. Ryan Ettner, a commodity broker […] Read more

Bottom line, the fluctuations of stocks, bonds, currencies and commodities during periods of rising interest rates are not always as dramatic as you might think.

How widespread will interest rate fallout be?

Looking at economic history, the effects aren’t always as dramatic as you might think

Reading Time: 3 minutes Take a moment to imagine what the world and your business would look like if interest rates were at four per cent — or even six per cent — instead of two per cent. Everyone has been talking about inflation and interest rates and yield curve inversions lately, so what does it all mean? While […] Read more


A Russian army service member fires a howitzer during drills at the Kuzminsky range in Russia’s southern Rostov region on Jan. 26, 2022. (Photo: Reuters/Sergey Pivovarov)

CBOT weekly outlook: Potential for conflict, interest rate hikes affects prices

MarketsFarm — The ongoing standoff between Russia and the West over Ukraine, along with speculation regarding key interest rates from the U.S. Federal Reserve, were two major factors on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) during the week ended Wednesday. The potential for a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine had caused a sharp hike in […] Read more

The increase in farmland prices in the first half of the year was normal, but price rises may slow because of the drought.

Land Prices: Interest still high, pocketbooks thinner

Scarce listings get a lot of looks, but drought may curb price rises

Reading Time: 4 minutes The hot weather this summer may cool the price rise for Alberta farmland this winter — but there are still plenty of farmers looking to add acres, say experts. Prior to the drought, the increase in land prices was typical for the first half of the year, said Kuuri Carlson, an appraiser with Farm Credit […] Read more


CBOT July 2021 corn (candlesticks) with CBOT July 2021 wheat (orange line) and July 2021 soybeans (dark green line, left column). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn, soy, wheat up after sell-off

Some traders feel Thursday's sell-off overdone

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn, soybean and wheat futures rose sharply on Friday, rebounding from steep declines a day earlier on bargain-buying ahead of the weekend and uncertainty about weather in the Midwest crop belt, analysts said. Fresh export interest lent support as this week’s break in futures appeared to stimulate demand. Chinese state-owned […] Read more

CBOT July 2021 corn (candlesticks) with MGEX, CBOT and K.C. July 2021 wheat (green, black and orange lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn, soy plunge on weather, broad commodities sell-off

CBOT wheat follows trend lower

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn and soybean futures fell sharply on Thursday, pressured by outlooks for rain and cooler temperatures in the Midwest crop belt, as well as spillover from broad-based selling in the commodities sector, analysts said. Wheat followed the weaker trend, with seasonal pressure noted from the U.S. winter wheat harvest. Chicago […] Read more