Reading Time: 4 minutes A lot of flea beetles, few diseases and pretty good yields are highlights of this growing season for three crop specialists. “In general, we’re at or above average for the five-year (yield) average and some of the 10-year averages,” said Jeremy Boychyn, agronomy research extension manager with Alberta Wheat and Alberta Barley. “All of Alberta […] Read more
All in all, it wasn’t a bad crop year – and that’s welcome news
Keep an eye out for flea beetles, grasshoppers and bacterial leaf streak in the coming year
Prairie grain shipping record a hopeful sign, but will it continue?
Elevator association says CN’s record week is encouraging but winter movement must stay strong
Reading Time: 3 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – CN’s record-setting week for moving Prairie grain is impressive but it’s consistency that matters in grain transport, says the Western Grain Elevators Association. “Even an amateur golfer can hit a hole in one once in a while, but the pros hit a good ball consistently,” said Wade Sobkowich, the association’s executive director. […] Read more
AAFC report sees another series of tweaks
MarketsFarm — As expected, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) avoided making any major revisions to its November supply and demand estimates, waiting until Statistics Canada issues its next production report on Dec. 2. AAFC released its latest monthly report late Friday afternoon. While AAFC tweaked its November supply and demand estimates from October, most of […] Read more
These are anything but normal times in the markets, says analyst
There’s not one, but three, powerful new factors at play — war, tight supplies, and rising interest rates
Reading Time: 4 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – We live in strange times, says a veteran market analyst. “I look at these markets as bipolar in some cases,” said Mike Jubinville, senior analyst with MarketsFarm. “On one hand, the macroeconomics have potentially bearish demand implications as fears of a recessionary environment take hold. But on the other hand, we have […] Read more
IGC makes small alterations to monthly report
MarketsFarm — There was very little in the way of changes in the November supply and demand report from the International Grain Council (IGC). The most notable alteration made by the London-based global organization was its four million-tonne reduction to 2022-23 wheat ending stocks, now at 282 million tonnes. The IGC lowered exports from 70 […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: More corn, oats in feed rations
'Very weird situation to be seeing again'
MarketsFarm — As prices for feed barley and wheat increase, more feedlots are turning to corn, according to Susanne Leclerc of Market Master Ltd. at Edmonton. “A lot of places are switching to corn. The desirability of feed barley has been coming down,” she said. “So it will be interesting to see which way the […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat, corn up on reports of Russian missiles hitting Poland
January soybeans also close higher
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. grain futures rallied on Tuesday as reports that Russian missiles crossed into Poland raised concerns about escalating political tensions, market analysts said. A senior U.S. intelligence official said Russian missiles crossed into Poland, killing two people, the Associated Press reported. The Pentagon said it could not confirm reports that Russian […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans, corn end lower as crude oil sags
Chicago December wheat firms
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybean and corn futures fell on Monday on spillover pressure from crude oil along with uncertainty about export demand for U.S. supplies of both crops, analysts said. But wheat futures rose on signs of global export demand while traders continued to monitor prospects for the renewal of an export corridor […] Read more
The quest for drought-tolerant wheat heats up
A hotter, drier future looms but breeding for drought tolerance is a complicated business
Reading Time: 5 minutes The push to breed drought-resistant wheat has taken on new urgency as dry times become more common and more severe. “Drought is big on everybody’s minds these days,” said Harpinder Randhawa, a wheat breeder with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Lethbridge research centre. “Especially in Western Canada, we rely heavily on the natural water availability of […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soy futures up on China COVID curbs, weakening U.S. dollar
Corn market gains boosted by strength in crude oil market
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago wheat, corn and soybeans rose on Friday, underpinned by strong commodities and equities markets, as well as hopes that China’s easing of COVID-19 restrictions could boost demand. Soybeans bounced on hopes that China’s move to ease some COVID-19 curbs might spur economic activity, potentially boosting demand for goods including soybeans. […] Read more