Canola jumps on harvest delays, wheat climbs on export demand

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Published: October 13, 2016

November canola posted the strongest gain in many days on Thursday during the session and closed up just over one percent.

The Saskatchewan crop report today said that 23 percent of the province’s canola crop and 21 percent of the spring wheat is still in the field, marking almost no progress from last week’s report.

More rain and snow is expected in Alberta tonight and Friday with the system moving into Saskatchewan later on Friday, further delaying harvest.

And more moisture is expected on Sunday.

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The unharvested grain will likely be picked up before the full force of winter settles in, but with millions of acres still out, it presents a risk.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THIS WEEK’S VIDEO CROP MARKET UPDATE

It was not only the weather that lifted canola.

There were gains across the crop futures market today with the strongest performance in corn and wheat.

Chicago wheat was caught in a short covering rally, rising almost five percent as several international buyers announced tenders for new supply.

U.S. wheat is now priced competitively internationally and so export movement is expected to be good.

Minneapolis wheat rose about two percent. December Minneapolis is now at a slight premium to the March contract, indicating it is the strongest of the three wheat markets. Chicago and Kansas still have a carry between December and March.

Wheat helped to pull corn higher, as did short covering and solid cash markets even as the U.S. harvest continues to roll along.

As the U.S. harvest nears the halfway point, farmers generally have been selling soybeans but storing their corn, holding out for higher prices, Dan Cekander, president of DC Analysis, told Reuters.

“There is very limited selling pressure from harvest. We are moving along and just not seeing the selling,” Cekander said.

The crude oil market stabilized today. The U.S. crude stocks weekly report showed a week over week increase, the first in six weeks. However, the impact was moderated by a draw down in diesel and gasoline stocks.

China issued monthly reports that showed its import and export sectors did worse than expected.

Light crude oil nearby futures in New York were up 26 cents to US$50.44 per barrel.

The Canadian dollar at noon was US75.65 cents, up from 75.32 cents the previous trading day. The U.S. dollar at noon was C$1.3219.

The Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index closed up 24.74 points, or 0.17 percent, at 14,643.71.

The Dow Jones industrial average was down 45.26 points, or 0.25 percent, to 18,098.94, the S&P 500 lost 6.63 points, or 0.31 percent, to 2,132.55 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 25.69 points, or 0.49 percent, to 5,213.33.

 

Winnipeg ICE Futures Canada dollars per tonne

Canola Nov 2016   480.10   +5.60   +1.18%

Canola Jan 2017   487.90   +5.80   +1.20%

Canola Mar 2017   493.30   +6.00   +1.23%

Canola May 2017   497.50   +5.70   +1.16%

Canola Jul 2017   497.80   +4.80   +0.97%

 

Milling Wheat Dec 2016   234.00   +5.00   +2.18%

Milling Wheat Mar 2017   238.00   +5.00   +2.15%

Milling Wheat May 2017   242.00   +6.00   +2.54%

 

Durum Wheat Dec 2016   294.00   +6.00   +2.08%

Durum Wheat Mar 2017   304.00   +8.00   +2.70%

Durum Wheat May 2017   308.00   +8.00   +2.67%

 

Barley Dec 2016   132.50   unch   0.00%

Barley Mar 2017   134.50   unch   0.00%

Barley May 2017   135.50   unch   0.00%

 

American crop prices in cents US/bushel, soybean meal in $US/short ton, soy oil in cents US/pound

 

Chicago

Soybeans Nov 2016   956.25   +10.75   +1.14%

Soybeans Jan 2017   964.75   +11.25   +1.18%

Soybeans Mar 2017   971.00   +10.75   +1.12%

Soybeans May 2017   978.00   +10.75   +1.11%

Soybeans Jul 2017   984.25   +11.25   +1.16%

Soybeans Aug 2017   983.75   +11.50   +1.18%

 

Soybean Meal Oct 2016   299.80   +5.30   +1.80%

Soybean Meal Dec 2016   302.30   +5.80   +1.96%

Soybean Meal Jan 2017   303.80   +6.00   +2.01%

 

Soybean Oil Oct 2016   33.16   +0.02   +0.06%

Soybean Oil Dec 2016   33.38   +0.04   +0.12%

Soybean Oil Jan 2017   33.66   +0.03   +0.09%

 

Corn Dec 2016   349.50   +12.50   +3.71%

Corn Mar 2017   359.50   +12.50   +3.60%

Corn May 2017   366.00   +12.25   +3.46%

Corn Jul 2017   372.50   +12.00   +3.33%

Corn Sep 2017   379.50   +11.75   +3.20%

 

Oats Dec 2016   195.75   -2.25   -1.14%

Oats Mar 2017   198.75   -1.25   -0.62%

Oats May 2017   202.00   -1.25   -0.62%

Oats Jul 2017   205.00   unch   0.00%

Oats Sep 2017   214.00   -1.25   -0.58%

 

Wheat Dec 2016   416.00   +19.25   +4.85%

Wheat Mar 2017   434.75   +18.25   +4.38%

Wheat May 2017   448.50   +18.50   +4.30%

Wheat Jul 2017   460.25   +18.25   +4.13%

Wheat Sep 2017   474.50   +17.25   +3.77%

 

Minneapolis

Spring Wheat Dec 2016   532.00   +10.25   +1.96%

Spring Wheat Mar 2017   531.75   +9.25   +1.77%

Spring Wheat May 2017   536.50   +9.00   +1.71%

Spring Wheat Jul 2017   543.00   +8.25   +1.54%

Spring Wheat Sep 2017   550.00   +7.00   +1.29%

 

Kansas City

Hard Red Wheat Dec 2016   414.00   +15.50   +3.89%

Hard Red Wheat Mar 2017   431.00   +15.75   +3.79%

Hard Red Wheat May 2017   441.75   +16.00   +3.76%

Hard Red Wheat Jul 2017   452.50   +16.25   +3.72%

Hard Red Wheat Sep 2017   467.00   +15.75   +3.49%

 

Chicago livestock futures in US¢/pound (rounded to two decimal places)

Live Cattle (P) Oct 2016   94.45   -2.30   -2.38%

Live Cattle (P) Dec 2016   96.18   -1.82   -1.86%

Live Cattle (P) Feb 2017   97.95   -1.58   -1.59%

 

Feeder Cattle (P) Oct 2016   119.45   -2.55   -2.09%

Feeder Cattle (P) Nov 2016   114.82   -2.96   -2.51%

Feeder Cattle (P) Jan 2017   111.55   -2.73   -2.39%

 

Lean Hogs (P) Oct 2016   52.62   +0.24   +0.46%

Lean Hogs (P) Dec 2016   44.18   +0.13   +0.30%

Lean Hogs (P) Feb 2017  51.20   +0.28   +0.55%

 

 

 

About the author

D'Arce McMillan

Markets editor, Saskatoon newsroom

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