Canadians were feeling a little prouder last week as the Canadian loonie reached par with the U.S. dollar, but prairie producers prepared for eroded profits. That’s because every penny that the loonie climbs compared to the American dollar is often a penny lost on the farmgate return from sales of crops and livestock. “It certainly […] Read more
Ed White
Stories by Ed White
Water panel travels Prairies gathering pollution concerns
A united front of environmentalists is crossing the Prairies to persuade people and governments to toughen up water quality rules. They say farmers won’t be solely blamed for present water quality woes, such as those afflicting Lake Winnipeg. “We want to talk with agricultural communities, farm communities, and hear from them what they expect, and […] Read more
Tight world situation overshadows Cdn stocks
The grain market uses numbers and statistics as fuel. It’s a flex-fuel engine, however, with prices sometimes propelled with interesting and unusual numbers rather than the big ones. That appears to be the case at the moment for some prairie crops, with canola and oat prices stronger than one might expect in the face of […] Read more
Tough to get every penny out of wheat markets
What will the peak of the wheat market look like? The frustrating answer is that you will only be able to recognize it after it has occurred, and prices are lower. That’s the eternal frustration of the farmer and every other seller who wants to sell his crop at the top. By the time you […] Read more
Grain buyers keep buying despite rising prices
Grain buyers around the world are howling over rising prices. But while most buyers complain, few appear able to walk away from the table. “That’s pretty limited,” said Gord Flaten, the head of the Canadian Wheat Board’s sales department. “There are some who are looking at their cost of inputs and making changes (but) there […] Read more
Markets jittery over Aussie drought
Australia’s searing drought is igniting a fire under wheat prices. “It’s extremely critical in Australia,” said Canadian Wheat Board weather and markets analyst Bruce Burnett. “If they don’t get the rains in the next two to three weeks, crop yields are going to drop quite dramatically.” Good rain at seeding time encouraged planting of a […] Read more
When will wheat peak?
How high can wheat go? That’s not just a question. “That’s the number one question,” said Winnipeg analyst David Drozd of Ag-Chieve. “Where will the top be?” Wheat prices have stunned all but the most bullish of forecasters in the past few weeks, rocketing past the $7 US per bushel price on U.S. commodity exchanges, […] Read more
Spreads are nearly risk-free way to market grain – Hedge Row
When is cheap better than free? When what’s cheap contains no surprises and what’s free ends up causing big financial headaches, says Errol Anderson of Pro Market Communications. That’s why he focuses on option strategies for crop sellers and buyers and why he’s promoting call option spreads and put option spreads. A futures contract could […] Read more
Stubble smoke outrages Winnipeggers
Stubble burners have again infuriated Winnipeggers and provoked more calls for banning the practice. The Winnipeg Sun described the situation in its front page story September 7 as “Burning Mayhem.” The Winnipeg Free Press called it “A Burning Debate” in its front page story on the same day. A thick white cloud hung over parts […] Read more
Illegal stubble fires prompt calls for ban in Manitoba
The Manitoba government gave some Red River Valley farmers the Labour Day weekend off. But few of the farmers were thankful. The province’s Aug. 30 temporary ban on stubble burning left many post-harvest farmers with a problem. They need to burn the thick stubble on their fields. “We think the province was premature,” said Ray […] Read more
