CBOT November 2019 soybeans with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybeans up on trade optimism, Midwest weather

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures climbed to their highest level in nearly three months on Wednesday before paring gains, supported by optimism about increased Chinese purchases and fears that a winter storm in the upper U.S. Midwest could threaten late-maturing crops. Corn closed modestly lower and wheat was little changed, with both commodities […] Read more


Smoke billows during a fire in an area of the Amazon rainforest near Humaita, Amazonas State, Brazil on Aug. 14, 2019. (Photo: Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino)

South America fires could disrupt its farm belt’s rainfall

Santa Cruz | Reuters — Forest fires that swept across Bolivia and Brazil this year could disrupt rainfall distribution across South America’s grains-and-beef producing regions in unpredictable ways for years to come, a scientist and meteorologist said. Recent rains in both countries have helped put out the wildfires, which were likely started by farmers and […] Read more

File photo of a durum wheat field in Idaho. (Craig Morris photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Late North American durum faces quality downgrades

MarketsFarm — Cool and wet conditions delaying harvest operations across North America’s durum-growing regions are cutting into the quality of the crop in both the U.S. and Canada, with widening price spreads likely going forward. “It’s been a challenging harvest,” said Erica Olson, marketing specialist with the North Dakota Wheat Commission. “We did have some […] Read more


CBOT December 2019 wheat with 20-, 50- and 200-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat, corn, soy rally after finding technical support

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn, soybean and wheat futures rose on Tuesday, rebounding from weakness in the overnight session after finding technical support, traders said. Wheat notched the biggest gain, with the benchmark Chicago Board of Trade soft red winter wheat contract rising 2.3 per cent. The contract rebounded from early weakness after finding […] Read more




Weather conditions put the chill on harvest progress

Weather conditions put the chill on harvest progress

Alberta Crop Report: Conditions as of October 1

Reading Time: 5 minutes Harvest progress for major crops is 20 points behind the provincial 5-year average, but on par with progress for this reporting period last year. As compared to last week, 5 per cent more crop is in the bin. The Peace region is 34 points behind its 5-year average, followed by the North East at 25 […] Read more


File photo of a snow-topped field in Alberta. (Don White/iStock/Getty Images)

Feed weekly outlook: Snowfall boosts spot barley bids

MarketsFarm — Spot barley prices have received support from last weekend’s snows in southern Alberta, but the major barley-growing regions were mostly spared. While the cold and wet weather has delayed harvest activity, a promising forecast should allow for harvest to resume in the Red Deer area, where most of the barley crop is located. […] Read more

ICE Futures November 2019 canola, with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: Upside limited for canola’s snow boost

MarketsFarm — An unwelcomed early winter storm sent ICE Futures canola contracts higher during the week ended Wednesday, but it will take outside support to sustain a rally, according to industry participants. Snow in Alberta and Saskatchewan and cool and wet conditions in Manitoba slowed harvest operations during the week, with about 60 per cent […] Read more


Upcoming events