Plans to increase the amount of palm oil in Indonesia’s biodiesel fuel supply should support global vegetable oil prices, which in turn should support canola values. But other issues also affect vegetable oil prices, so it’s not certain that values will rise. Indonesia is the world’s largest palm oil producer and exporter. It already has […] Read more
D'Arce McMillan
Stories by D'Arce McMillan
Central banks ponder how fast to reduce interest rates
The latest inflation and employment reports show the Canadian economy could be cooling too fast, prompting several prominent economists to encourage the Bank of Canada to aggressively cut interest rates. The bank met this week and was expected to cut its key rate by at least 25 basis points or more. This column was written […] Read more
Prices of crops, oil bounce back from late summer lows
Weather issues and international tensions are lifting prices of several commodities off lows hit in late August and early September. Wheat production estimates and forecasts are down because of weather challenges in Russia, Argentina and elsewhere, helping to lift wheat futures. Crude oil prices are bouncing back as worries mount about a potential Middle East […] Read more
Trump would likely affect agriculture more than Harris
Either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump will become, arguably, the most powerful person in the world come Inauguration Day Jan. 20. American presidents make decisions on trade, environment and agriculture and food, often setting agendas with consequences felt around the world and even on your farm. Canadians don’t vote in American elections, but it is […] Read more
Booming canola exports, domestic use offset low prices
The weakest canola price since 2020 appears to be helping to stoke domestic and export demand for the oilseed. The crop year is young, but canola exports and domestic use are so far running at a record pace. Exports stand at 1.676 million tonnes over the first seven weeks of the crop year to Sept. […] Read more
Record S. American soy forecast assumes drought ends
Market attention will soon turn to South America, where seeding has begun on the next soybean crop, which major forecasters expect will set a new record if the current soil moisture deficit is fixed by improved rain. Soybean and canola futures are weak as combines roll in North America, harvesting a forecasted record large soybean […] Read more
Canola price weakens on supply forecast, trade tension
Canada had almost 3.1 million tonnes of canola in stocks at the end of the crop year, which was more than expected, and once all the disposition numbers have been tallied, it looks like the 2023-24 crop was bigger than the official estimate. Every year, concurrent with the release of the July 31 stocks report, […] Read more
Rising population sparks change in domestic food demand
Canada’s high rate of immigration has generated a lot of attention, particularly in relationship to the impact on the tight housing situation. The rapid population increase also strains the school and health-care systems, and some commentators worry these problems endanger what has been until now a public consensus that immigration is a desirable policy. This […] Read more
Europe’s crop problems generate market opportunities
While crop production prospects in our nearest competitor, the United States, appear to be great, weather has not been so kind in other parts of the world. The outlook for a huge American crop has weakened grain prices, but the outlook for Canada’s crop exports in 2024-25 will also be affected by harvests in Europe, […] Read more
Inflation fight must walk tightrope amid consumer anger
Like giant cargo ships, the big economies of the world have sailed through stormy seas for several years and finally calmer water might be ahead, but the crews are in a foul mood and are not about to salute their captains. In Canada, the United States and elsewhere, the chaos from COVID-19 and the Russian […] Read more
