South American crop estimates are rising again, but the news had little effect on crop futures markets Wednesday.
Crop futures barely moved as the market continues in limbo, awaiting the USDA prospective plantings report March 31.
Old crop canola edged lower with May closing at $460.60, down $2.10 a tonne.
New crop November closed at $449.60, up $2.50 a tonne.
Prices in the soybean complex were little changed even though Brazilian analyst Agroconsult increased its estimate for the 2014-15 soybean crop now being harvested to 95.8 million tonnes from 94.7 million tonnes a month ago.
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Last month analysts were trimming Brazil’s crop a little because of dry weather in some regions in January, but it appears excellent yields in other regions are making up for that problem.
And Reuters reported that Argentine growers have harvested about five percent of this year’s soy, with high yields in the central farm belt compensating for flood damage in northern fields.
Analysts say that is keeping the country on track for a record crop.
Forecasts for Argentina’s crop range from 56 million tonnes to 60 million tonnes, exceeding last year’s crop, which itself was a record at 53.4 million tonnes.
Analysts expect the USDA plantings survey report next week to show that U.S. farmers plan to plant 85.92 million acres of soybeans this spring, up from 83.70 million a year ago.
Wheat futures declined a few pennies a bushel on technical selling and forecasts for scattered showers in the U.S. plains,although the driest areas were expected to miss the moisture.
Corn edged up a penny or two mostly on technical factors.
Traders expect the USDA planting report will show American farmers plan to seed less corn this year.
U.S. stock markets were lower in afternoon trading, with the Dow down about 1.5 percent with weakness in biotech and semiconductor shares.
Kraft Foods shares soared after a merger agreement with H.J. Heinz Co, owned by 3G Capital and Berkshire Hathaway. It will be the third largest food company in North America.
The Toronto Stock Exchange composite was down close to one percent.
Light crude oil nearby futures in New York were up $1.70 to US$49.21 per barrel.
The Canadian dollar at noon was US79.92 cents, down from 79.93 cents the previous trading day. The U.S. dollar at noon was C$1.2513.
Winnipeg ICE Futures Canada dollars per tonne
Canola May 2015 460.60 -2.10 -0.45%
Canola Jul 2015 460.10 -0.20 -0.04%
Canola Nov 2015 449.60 +2.50 +0.56%
Canola Jan 2016 450.60 +1.80 +0.40%
Canola Mar 2016 452.50 +1.80 +0.40%
Milling Wheat May 2015 238.00 unch 0.00%
Milling Wheat Jul 2015 239.00 unch 0.00%
Milling Wheat Oct 2015 243.00 unch 0.00%
Durum Wheat May 2015 323.00 unch 0.00%
Durum Wheat Jul 2015 313.00 unch 0.00%
Durum Wheat Oct 2015 318.00 unch 0.00%
Barley May 2015 202.00 unch 0.00%
Barley Jul 2015 202.00 unch 0.00%
Barley Oct 2015 187.00 unch 0.00%
American crop prices in cents US/bushel, soybean meal in $US/short ton, soy oil in cents US/pound
Chicago
Soybeans May 2015 978.75 -3 -0.31%
Soybeans Jul 2015 982.5 -4 -0.41%
Soybeans Aug 2015 981 -4.5 -0.46%
Soybeans Sep 2015 964.75 -5 -0.52%
Soybeans Nov 2015 957.25 -5.25 -0.55%
Soybeans Jan 2016 962.25 -5.25 -0.54%
Soybean Meal May 2015 324.5 -1.8 -0.55%
Soybean Meal Jul 2015 322.7 -1.5 -0.46%
Soybean Meal Aug 2015 321 -1.5 -0.47%
Soybean Oil May 2015 31.04 -0.07 -0.23%
Soybean Oil Jul 2015 31.26 -0.06 -0.19%
Soybean Oil Aug 2015 31.31 -0.06 -0.19%
Corn May 2015 395 +1.75 +0.45%
Corn Jul 2015 403 +1.75 +0.44%
Corn Sep 2015 410.25 +1.5 +0.37%
Corn Dec 2015 418 +0.75 +0.18%
Corn Mar 2016 426.75 +0.5 +0.12%
Oats May 2015 282.25 +0.25 +0.09%
Oats Jul 2015 284 +1.75 +0.62%
Oats Sep 2015 284.75 unch 0.00%
Oats Dec 2015 284.25 -1.25 -0.44%
Oats Mar 2016 287.75 -0.5 -0.17%
Wheat May 2015 519 -4.5 -0.86%
Wheat Jul 2015 523.75 -4.5 -0.85%
Wheat Sep 2015 533.25 -4.25 -0.79%
Wheat Dec 2015 548 -4 -0.72%
Wheat Mar 2016 561.25 -4 -0.71%
Minneapolis
Spring Wheat May 2015 580.75 -1 -0.17%
Spring Wheat Jul 2015 586.25 -0.5 -0.09%
Spring Wheat Sep 2015 594 -0.5 -0.08%
Spring Wheat Dec 2015 604.25 -1 -0.17%
Spring Wheat Mar 2016 616.25 -1 -0.16%
Kansas City
Hard Red Wheat May 2015 563 -2.25 -0.40%
Hard Red Wheat Jul 2015 568.25 -2.75 -0.48%
Hard Red Wheat Sep 2015 578.75 -2.75 -0.47%
Hard Red Wheat Dec 2015 592.5 -3 -0.50%
Hard Red Wheat Mar 2016 604 -2.5 -0.41%
