Farmers are so bullish about red lentils that many plan to grow them naked, without the protection of a contract. They can’t get price protection because buyers feel no pressure to lock up prices. “A lot of the buyers are unwilling to offer the contracts they had in the past,” said Saskatchewan Pulse Growers chair […] Read more
Ed White
Stories by Ed White
Defaulting their way to success
Remember a few years ago when Canada’s big five English Canadian banks were endlessly whining, whingeing and carping about how they needed to be deregulated and allowed to merge in order to be big, tough and successful like the yankee banks down south? You don’t hear that so much. But as recently as the end […] Read more
Chasing markets can be disappointing – Hedge Row
Farmers are famous for seeding this year’s crop for last year’s market. In other words, whatever had the best prices last year is likely to be grown most enthusiastically this year. That’s a problem, because every farmer sees the same prices in the rearview mirror and many grow in the hope of achieving those prices […] Read more
Financial guru sees farmland as safe investment
A lot of farmers still have that “what happened” look after seeing last year’s crop price rally evaporate in the heat of the worldwide financial meltdown. However, American commodities guru Jim Rogers thinks prairie farmers should not give up on the dream of farming their way to prosperity. In fact, he’s buying Canadian farmland. “If […] Read more
Flagging oats
A few weeks ago I wrote a story about the pennant formation that appeared to have formed in the oats futures market. Oats prices had been moving in a narrowing range between highs and lows – roughly $2.10 to $2.40 per bushel on the CBOT – and if it truly was a pennant, then it […] Read more
Effects of La Nina still speculative, say experts
Wheat yields often boom on the Prairies during La Nina years, but an active La Nina weather influence this January doesn’t necessarily mean bumper crops this summer. “I don’t believe you can look at what’s going on there and then come to a solid conclusion that, hey, the La Nina happens and in the end […] Read more
Volatility might offer price opportunities
The long-term trend isn’t good: crop prices tend to follow a downward price trend after a big spike like last summer’s. But another trend might start giving producers more spikes to take advantage of, says agricultural economist Alex McCalla. “All the weather models I’ve seen … have a common theme: you’re going to have increasing […] Read more
Silage corn expands traditional zone: trials
Silage corn is tougher than many would think. That’s the conclusion of a company that’s been testing varieties in southern Manitoba, which found that even areas cooler than the Red River Valley, such as the Dauphin-Ste. Rose area, appear to be able to produce corn without undue risk from the short season. “It’s able to […] Read more
Life in the markets
The deathwatch of the markets has been cancelled today with a cross-market rally taking everything up. Even that sad sack commodity of oats. For people who still hold equities, it’s been an appalling last few days to watch the Dow Jones Industrial Average fall well below 7,000. That’s below the November 20 low. It’s been […] Read more
Bounce or fall?
A lot of eyes today are on the CRB Index, which tracks the major world commodities. If it falls through 200, then a lot of people are going to be scared about the overall commodity outlook. If it bounces off of 200 and moves higher, then people will feel a little bit better about the […] Read more
