Frost isn’t good for crops. But the threat of frost can be good for prices. And fear of frost is beginning to work its way beyond the farm gate and out into the upper reaches of the markets. Yesterday I was called by one of the American analysts I often interview and he wanted a […] Read more
Ed White
Stories by Ed White
How much is really out there – again?
Today StatsCan released its report on what farmers think they’re going to produce this year, or at least what on July 31 they thought. Go see the report here: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/090821/dq090821a-eng.htm Basically it expects a 17.5 percent decline in all-wheat production to 23.61 million tonnes and a 24.5 percent reduction in canola to 9.541 million tonnes. […] Read more
ReVenge letter
Remember all the talk over the winter about the shape of the world economy following the 2008 crash? Various opinionators offered different outlooks, and the common practice came to be labeling each outlook with the letter that most closely resembled the outlook. Everyone wanted to see a V-shaped recovery, in which the awful shape of […] Read more
Hog plan: loans, opt-out cash
GLENLEA, Man. – After more than 35 minutes of talk from politicians and farm leaders, Marg Rempel still didn’t know whether she was going to be able to survive as a hog farmer. “I’m not exactly sure what this means. I’ve got lots of questions,” said Rempel, a Landmark, Man., mixed farmer, after listening to […] Read more
Hog aid plan draws cheers, criticism
GLENLEA, Man. – Starkly different farmer views are emerging about whether the recently announced federal hog aid programs will save the industry. While national and provincial pork industry leaders have generally praised the loan and mothballing programs, producers in the Red River Valley’s weanling industry see nothing to stop their freefall into economic oblivion. “This […] Read more
Uncertainty clouds canola price
The Winnipeg futures market can supply only one price for canola. But hidden within that price, which was $431 per tonne for the November contract at close for Aug. 17, is a host of questions. Two major questions that could swing prices dramatically one way or the other in coming weeks are: How big will […] Read more
Bad European weather may save durum prices
Poor growing conditions in Western Europe are mitigating the market damage that good growing conditions in North America and North Africa have caused to durum prices. Odd little markets are popping up to take some supplies off the market that wouldn’t find much demand this year from North Africa. “We’ve seen sales to England and […] Read more
False belief of economic rebound could spell disaster – Hedge Row
A comfortable assumption is propping up today’s crop prices, which farmers should fear and hedge against. It’s the assumption that the U.S. and world economies are climbing out of recession and that consumer demand will grow in 2009-10 from its present depressed level. It’s a dangerous assumption because there’s little proof our economic hard times […] Read more
Red River crops take their time
WINKLER, Man. – In the rich agricultural Winkler-Morden region in the heart of Manitoba’s Red River Valley, the corn was tasseling, the canola was flowering and everything looked great – for July 1. But this was Aug. 7-8 and farmers attending the Winkler Harvest Festival and Stanley Agricultural Show were anxiously wondering how much time […] Read more
North America looks seriously at traceability
GIMLI, Man. – Canada is the North American leader in farm product traceability. However, even though some farmers oppose the move, American and Mexican agriculture state secretaries and commissioners say their jurisdictions plan to follow the same path. “We have progressed in developing a culture of quality and food safety, but we want to do […] Read more
