MarketsFarm — The U.S. National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center on Thursday reported a 65 per cent chance of El Nino prevailing throughout 2019’s growing season. “A weak El Nino is likely to continue through the Northern Hemisphere summer 2019 (65 per cent chance) and possibly fall (50-55 per cent chance),” the CPC’s report said. […] Read more
Prairies can expect unexpected from El Nino this summer
Blizzard forces closure of some U.S. grain processors, elevators
Chicago | Reuters — A second “bomb cyclone” blizzard hitting the United States was limiting the movement and processing of corn, soybeans and wheat around the Midwest and Plains on Thursday. Grain trader Cargill said it was closing three of its grain handling facilities in Minnesota, two in South Dakota and one in Nebraska on […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans, corn slide as export sales data disappoints
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean and corn futures fell on Thursday on disappointing weekly export sales data and expectations of large South American harvests that should dampen U.S. export prospects, analysts said. Wheat futures were higher on short-covering after a five-session slide and worries that wintry weather in the Dakotas will curb plantings of […] Read more
Neonic-treated canola not an ‘unacceptable risk’ for pollinators
Already facing federally mandated phase-outs from many major on-farm uses in Canada over risks to aquatic insects, neonicotinoids aren’t expected to pose “unacceptable risks” to pollinators when used on canola seed or hothouse vegetables in the meantime. Health Canada said as much Thursday as it released its final re-evaluation decisions for three neonic pesticides — […] Read more
Midwest floods hammer U.S. ethanol industry
New York | Reuters — The March floods that punished the U.S. Midwest have roiled the ethanol industry, hammering prices and trapping barrels in the country’s interior while the U.S. coasts suffer from shortages of the biofuel. The historic March floods have dealt a series of blows to large swaths of an ethanol industry that […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Corn acreage predicted to be flat
MarketsFarm — Experts predict corn acreage will be flat in Western Canada in 2019. While flooding remains a concern to many this spring, years of dry summers have impacted soil conditions to the point where a wet spring may be a welcome reprieve. “I’m more concerned about how much moisture we will have gained because […] Read more
Flood concerns ease across Prairies outside southern Manitoba
MarketsFarm — A slower-than-normal spring melt has helped to alleviate most flood concerns across the Prairies, except in southern Manitoba. That part of Manitoba, especially the Red River Valley south of Winnipeg, isn’t out of the woods just yet. Flooding may still reach levels on par with high water levels reached in 2009, according to […] Read more
U.S. grains: Improving weather view weighs on wheat
Chicago | Reuters — MGEX spring wheat futures plunged two per cent on Tuesday to their lowest levels since July 2018 on easing concerns about the weather in key U.S. growing areas and weakening cash prices, traders said. K.C. hard red winter wheat futures also were weak, with a better-than-expected government report on crop conditions […] Read more
U.S. corn, soy stocks top forecasts
Chicago | Reuters –– Massive supplies of both U.S. corn and soybeans remained in storage bins around the country ahead of spring planting, U.S. Agriculture Department (USDA) data released on Friday showed. USDA also said that farmers planned to boost their corn plantings by 4.1 per cent but severe flooding in the U.S. Midwest may […] Read more
ADM says U.S. floods to cut into Q1 operating profit
Chicago | Reuters — Flooding and severe winter weather in the U.S. Midwest will reduce Archer Daniels Midland’s first-quarter operating profit by US$50 million to $60 million, the U.S. grains trader said on Monday. Record floods have devastated a wide swath of the farm belt across Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and several other states. The […] Read more