File photo of a soybean plantation in Brazil. (Mailson Pignata/iStock/Getty Images)

Cordonnier stands pat on South American crop projections

La Nina 'is still out there,' analyst says

MarketsFarm — At this point in the South American planting season it’s too early to get an accurate bead as to how much corn and soybeans will be grown in Brazil and Argentina, according to Dr. Michael Cordonnier of Soybean and Corn Advisor Inc. at Hinsdale, Ill. Cordonnier recently issued his latest estimates, keeping his […] Read more

(File photo by Dave Bedard)

Fund position switches to net long in canola

Net long in CBOT corn decreases on the week

MarketsFarm — The overall speculative position in the ICE Futures canola market swung from net short to net long during the first week of November, marking the first time speculators were holding more longs than shorts in four months. That’s according to the latest Commitment of Traders (CoT) report compiled by the U.S. Commodity Futures […] Read more


“It’s pretty hard to digest, but I still say Russia needs money. They don’t want to stop any grain shipments that they can…” says one Illinois commodity trader.  Photo: MaxZolotukhin/iStock/Getty Images Plus

CBOT weekly outlook: Russian flip-flop upsets markets, little change after Fed announcement

MarketsFarm – A pair of announcements affected the Chicago Board of Trade by different magnitudes on Nov. 2. Four days after Russian officials said the country was pulling out of an agreement to allow Ukrainian grain shipments on the Black Sea, the Russian government announced on Nov. 2 it changed its mind and will re-enter […] Read more

A combine in the Interlake runs against the setting sun on Nov. 1, 2022, in an effort to wrap up harvest.  Photo: Greg Berg

Manitoba nets average crops in 2022 after wet spring

MarketsFarm – Wet spring conditions delayed seeding operations across much of Manitoba to start the 2022 growing season, but warm summer conditions allowed for good development with yields for most crops showing a marked improvement over the drought-stricken 2021 harvest, according to the final crop report of the season from Manitoba Agriculture. On a crop-by-crop […] Read more


The general manager of a pulse processing plant in Saskatchewan predicts “stability” in organic markets for 2023.  Photo: Getty Images

Webinar reveals thoughts on present, future of organic markets

MarketsFarm – Ten representatives from companies buying or producing organic crops took part in a webinar discussing the markets for those crops hosted by SaskOrganics on Oct. 27. The marketing webinars, which are held bi-annually before spring seeding and after harvest, are designed to connect organic grain buyers and producers as well as provide information […] Read more

Supporters of Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro block highway BR-060, during a protest against President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva who won a third term following the presidential election run-off, in Abadiania, Brazil, October 31, 2022.  Photo: Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino

Trucker blockades in Brazil increase in wake of Bolsonaro election loss

Sao Paulo | Reuters – Truckers who support Brazil’s outgoing President Jair Bolsonaro escalated their protests on Monday, blocking roads in 16 states in an action that could affect agricultural exports in one of the world’s top food producers. Bolsonaro lost Sunday’s election to leftist former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, but has yet to concede […] Read more



Bunge’s refined and specialty oils segment turned in stronger quarterly earnings in the Americas and Europe.  Photo: Thinkstock

Crop merchant Bunge raises full-year profit outlook

Agricultural commodities trader Bunge Ltd BG.N on Wednesday raised its full-year earnings outlook after posting an adjusted third-quarter profit that topped expectations, sending its shares up about 2 per cent in premarket trading. The improved forecast was attributed to favorable market conditions as tight global crop supplies and strong demand have benefited supply chain middlemen […] Read more


Crop scout Luke Mullet measures ears of corn on the Pro Farmer Midwest Crop Tour in Iowa in late August. Tour participants were surprised by the lower-than-expected corn yields and that’s important because corn is considered “the king of grains” and a leading indicator of future prices, said market analyst Errol Anderson.

Watch the big picture and local situation, say grain market analysts

A slowing global economy is a key storyline but so is the basis offered by your local elevator

Reading Time: 4 minutes Global economies appear to be “falling off a cliff,” with reduced demand for crude oil and other commodities pressuring grain prices downward, says an Alberta-based commodities analyst. At the same time, lower than expected U.S. corn yields are supporting canola, wheat and soybean prices, said Errol Anderson, president of ProMarket Communications. Be ready to move […] Read more