MarketsFarm — December marks the start of what meteorologists call “meteorological winter” — and this winter, the Pacific Ocean phenomenon known as La Nina may be rearing its head once again. La Nina (Spanish for “little girl”) is a climate pattern detected over the Pacific every few years where cooler water pools at the equator […] Read more

Prairie winter weather a sign of La Nina repeat
Full effects won't be seen for a while yet

Pulse weekly outlook: Lentils up on lower production, stronger demand
MarketsFarm — As with so many other crops on the Prairies, production of lentils will be lower this year due to the drought. However, MarketsFarm Pro senior analyst Mike Jubinville said the lentil crop likely fared a bit better than cereals or oilseeds. Earlier this year, Statistics Canada projected lentil production to come at about […] Read more

Oat crop across Western Canada ‘not stellar’
MarketsFarm — As with most other crops on the Prairies, conditions are “not stellar” for oats, according to Shawna Mathieson, executive director for the Prairie Oat Growers Association. POGA directors from across the region who participated in a recent board meeting had a rather grim outlook on the coming harvest, she said. “Not a single […] Read more

Feed weekly outlook: Alberta feed prices rising
MarketsFarm — Higher-than-normal temperatures and continued demand for feed have caused prices for Alberta feed barley and feed wheat to increase over the past few weeks. However, that demand has pulled back somewhat. According to Prairie Ag Hotwire data from Wednesday, high-delivered bids for Alberta feed barley were at $7.84 per bushel, 48 cents higher […] Read more

ICE weekly outlook: Volatility to come for canola market
'Tighten up your seatbelt'
MarketsFarm — Record-breaking temperatures in British Columbia, lingering extreme heat in the Prairie provinces and little to no precipitation have strengthened an ongoing rally in the ICE Futures canola market. One trader, however, warns that canola contracts may be in for a mercurial few weeks. “We’re clearly in a weather market that is extremely volatile,” […] Read more

Feed weekly outlook: New-crop prices to rise
MarketsFarm — Well covered with grain for now, feedlots are beginning to set their sights on the new crop. Drought conditions on the Prairies and the U.S. northern Plains are causing new-crop feed wheat and feed barley prices to go up, according to a Saskatchewan-based trader. “Demand for old crop (is) dwindling and the focus […] Read more

U.S. grains: Wheat rallies on Plains weather concerns
Chicago soybeans, corn weaker
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures rose on Wednesday, led by gains in MGEX spring wheat contracts that firmed on concerns that dry conditions in key growing areas of the northern U.S. Plains and Canada could limit the size of the harvests. Soybean futures were lower as improving crop prospects in the U.S. Midwest […] Read more

CBOT weekly outlook: MGEX wheat spread widens over winter wheats
MarketsFarm — Hot, dry growing conditions in key spring wheat-growing regions of the northern U.S. and Canadian Prairies have seen Minneapolis (MGEX) spring wheat futures widen their spread over Chicago and Kansas City winter wheat contracts over the past few weeks — with additional strength likely given the current weather forecasts. Nearby spring wheat futures, […] Read more

ICE weekly outlook: Weather, soy complex weaken canola
MarketsFarm — Wet weather on the Prairies and U.S. northern Plains has brought downward pressure on ICE Futures canola prices, taking the market off the contract highs hit in early June. Losses in palm oil and soyoil were also bearish. While precipitation, or the potential of it falling over canola-growing areas in Western Canada and […] Read more

ICE weekly outlook: Canola market pits weather against supplies
MarketsFarm — As dry conditions remained prevalent across the Canadian Prairies and U.S. northern Plains, despite recent precipitation, the markets were in a struggle between the weather and tightening supplies, according to Winnipeg analyst Wayne Palmer of Exceed Grain. So far for the week of June 7, central and northern Alberta received rain, followed by […] Read more