CBOT December 2022 soft red winter wheat (candlesticks) with MGEX December 2022 hard red spring wheat (green open/high/low/close) and K.C. December 2022 hard red winter wheat (orange O/H/L/C). (Barchart)

CBOT weekly outlook: Tightening stocks underpin U.S. wheat, corn

USDA's soybean data seen as bearish

MarketsFarm — Tighter-than-expected quarterly wheat and corn stocks in last Friday’s report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture provided the biggest influence on the futures markets over the past week, with larger soybean stocks putting some nearby pressure on that market. Corn stocks in the U.S., as of Sept. 1, came in at 1.377 billion […] Read more

In-ground moisture sensors coupled with advanced software and weather forecasts will substantially improve variable rate irrigation in the coming years, says Mark Johnson (right) of Ensemble Scientific (pictured with Lewis Baarda of Farming Smarter).

It’s worth trying winter-hardy crops, but success can be elusive

Reading Time: 2 minutes Profiting from winter-hardy crops can be challenging, but they’re worth planting in small test areas, says the head of research and development at Western Ag Innovations. “It’s something good to keep your eye on,” Eric Bremer said at the recent Farming Smarter field school in Lethbridge. “It’s still difficult to guarantee a good result. Winter […] Read more


The USDA building in Washington, D.C. (Art Wager/iStock/Getty Images)

Larger spring wheat crop expected in U.S.

USDA expects reduced total worldwide wheat crop

MarketsFarm — Early indications point to a much larger spring wheat crop in the United States in 2022 compared to the drought-stricken 2021 crop despite the late seeding, according to the latest production estimates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In USDA’s first official production estimates of the growing season breaking out the different wheat […] Read more

CBOT July 2022 soft red wheat (candlesticks) with 50-day moving average (black line), MGEX July 2022 spring wheat (yellow line) and K.C. July 2022 hard red wheat (orange line). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat eases on harvest pressure

Nearby corn firms, July soybeans also lower

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures ended lower on Wednesday, led by K.C. hard red winter wheat, as the harvest progressed and forecasts signalled continued dry weather for combines rolling in the southern Plains, traders said. Corn futures closed mixed, with strong domestic cash markets supporting nearby July futures on the Chicago Board of […] Read more


Corn seedlings in southern Ontario in 2021. (Farmtario photo by John Greig)

Spring planting well underway in Ontario

MarketsFarm — Farmers are well into seeding their crops for 2022, according to Wednesday’s crop report from Ontario’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). The report noted planting of corn, soybeans and spring cereals started late last week — the exception being where there are heavier soils. OMAFRA projected planting could be 80 […] Read more



This photo illustration from the British website for the Yield Enhancement Network shows, in a simple way, the idea of using data to achieve a field’s potential yield.

Yield contest aims to make every grower a winner

Ontario and two American states launch their version of Yield Enhancement Network

Reading Time: 4 minutes A wheat-growing competition that started in the U.K. has crossed the Atlantic with the promise of helping farmers increase their yields. Started by a British agricultural consultancy a decade ago, a Yield Enhancement Network — or YEN — uses an annual competition as a learning tool by having participating farmers share field data. Computer modelling […] Read more

CBOT January 2022 soybeans (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, dark green and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soy, corn set multi-month highs

South American crop uncertainty, chart-based buying are factors

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures closed higher on Friday, hitting a 2-1/2 month top on worries about South American crop weather coupled with chart-based buying, traders said. Corn futures set a four-month high near $6 a bushel and wheat followed the firm trend (all figures US$). Chicago Board of Trade January soybeans settled […] Read more


winter wheat

Recent rains boost winter wheat prospects

Even if their ground is still dry, some growers may seed winter wheat and cross their fingers

Reading Time: 4 minutes Recent rainfall across Alberta may have more producers considering winter wheat this year. “With the rains we’ve had lately, there are people who are still optimistic about putting in some winter wheat this year,” Gary Stanford said on Aug. 25, following a week that brought about an inch and a half of moisture to his […] Read more

CBOT September 2021 wheat (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, orange and green lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: CBOT wheat snaps winning streak

Chicago corn, soybeans also fall

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade soft red winter wheat futures plunged 2.6 per cent on Thursday, snapping a six-session streak of gains as traders locked in profits from the rally. Soybean futures were down two per cent, with the latest weather forecasts showing that some timely rains will arrive in key growing […] Read more