So here are three ways to look at the market this morning: 1) A – Corn’s up today because of worries about future world crop prospects and because of continuing export sales, and anticipation of sales of the world’s corn crops to China. B – Soybeans are up because worries have eased today about China buying less. C […] Read more
Ed White
Stories by Ed White
Pray the markets are more like Phio, less like Ed
You’re probably hoping the crop markets are going to be more like Phio, and less like Ed. Well, you would be if you knew who Phio and Ed are, and why I just said that. Phio is my 20-month-old daughter. I am Ed. When I got up this morning, I felt rather weak and queasy. […] Read more
The ballad of Wendy and Ralph
Wendy and Ralph are crying, but I don’t know what it means to you. Yet. I hope to now what it means soon, as I go through another round of interviewing commodities experts about the bigger issues of the commodities complex, which is what underlies the heady levels crop prices are floating at these days. […] Read more
Duking it out for acres
In this winter’s battle for acres, the pipsqueak crops might get bashed by the big bullies of the playground, analysts say. After a couple of years of stealing everyone else’s territory, red lentils and other small acreage crops may end up in their little corners of the Prairies, with oats, wheat, canola and barley grabbing […] Read more
New systems allow brokers complex option strategies
Complex options strategies can now be more easily attempted through Winnipeg’s ICE Futures Canada exchange. Brokers are now able to post both User-Defined Spreads and Request For Quotes through the ICE’s computerized system. It will allow users of the market, which is home to North America’s canola futures contract, to go beyond the simple options […] Read more
Hedges cover cost-price spread
Farmers need to think about how carefully they cover their spreads. Do they randomly lock in prices for crops and inputs when they get the feeling they’re the best they’re going to be, or do they calculate the margins they need in the spreads and try to guarantee profit? It’s a worthwhile question to ponder […] Read more
Man. hog producers test needle-free injection
Manitoba hog producers are acting as guinea pigs for the rest of the Canadian industry to see how well needleless medication injectors work. More than 100 producers have been using the developing technology, which the industry hopes can eventually eliminate the problem of broken needles in meat. “From a food safety perspective, it’s an excellent […] Read more
Cattle producer finds others still not sold on Simmentals
ALTONA, Man. – If you spend enough time talking to Andrea Arbuckle, you might end up buying a Simmental bull you didn’t plan to own. The 24-year-old is a passionate advocate of the Simmental and Angus cattle her family in Hartney, Man., has always raised and enjoys talking about the value of good cows and […] Read more
From the journo-junkpile: corn to $6.50; soybeans to $13; whither prairie crops?
Dear reader, you probably don’t waste much time thinking of the plight of poor, ink-stained scribblers like me, but let me share one weekly sadness with you. Every week I interview quite a few fascinating, insightful people about important topics, and then use about 10 percent of what they told me. That’s all the room […] Read more
Getting bullisher
For weeks the crop markets have been bullish as various North American and world crop conditions have lent fundamental support to firmer crop prices. And as investment money has poured back into the ags, people have become bullish on technical grounds too. Once the funds start driving prices higher, then tend to do it for […] Read more
