Phil Franz-Warkentin

Phil Franz-Warkentin

Editor - Daily News

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Phil Franz-Warkentin grew up on an acreage in southern Manitoba and has reported on agriculture for over 20 years. Based in Winnipeg, his writing has appeared in publications across Canada and internationally. Phil is a trusted voice on the Prairie radio waves providing daily futures market updates. In his spare time, Phil enjoys playing music and making art.

Stories by Phil Franz-Warkentin

A lone blooming canola plant rises above the rest of the crop.
Markets

Canola weighing its place in U.S. biofuel future

Where canola hopes stand on the U.S. biofuel market and whether Canadian crops will or will not benefit

Where canola hopes stand on the U.S. biofuel market and whether Canadian crops will or will not benefit.
A hand holding a round glass ball with a wheat crop in the background. The crop is upside down when viewed through the glass ball.
Markets, News, Tariffs

Tariffs roil Canadian grain markets

About the only certainty these days is there is going to be more uncertainty

U.S. trade policies continue to impact agrictultural futures, and politics appear to remain the driving force behind grain and oilseeds markets for the foreseeable future.
A ripe wheat plant.
Crop Management, Markets, News, Video

Canada to seed more wheat, less canola in 2025: StatCan

Farmers also seeding more peas, corn and oats

Canadian farmers intend to plant more wheat and less canola in 2025, according to the first survey-based estimates for the upcoming growing season from Statistics Canada released March 12. Area seeded to corn, oats and peas is also expected to rise, while soybeans, barley and lentils are forecast to lose acres.
Canola sits in a steel grain bin.
Grain Markets, Markets, Tariffs

Tariffs at forefront of trade

Canola futures got a boost from the last-minute pause to threatened U.S. tariffs on Canadian imports during the first week of February

Phil Franz-Warkentin looks at the positive impact the pause on tariffs had on grain and oilseed markets.
Canadian and American flags fly next to one another, text on the image says, "Canada-U.S.: Largest trading partners."
Markets, News, Tariffs

U.S. tariffs on Canada delayed until March

Trudeau and Trump reach deal to postpone trade war

Glacier FarmMedia – A looming trade war between Canada and the United States set to begin Feb. 4 will be postponed for at least another month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced via social media late Monday, Feb. 3. Impending 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian imports to the U.S. and retaliatory Canadian measures were set […] Read more
U.S. president Donald Trump speaks from a lectern with the presidential seal on it.
Markets, Tariffs

Trump-effect volatility will be a perennial market mover

On-again, off-again tariff talk kept agricultural markets on edge with the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump. Living up to his name, the president’s whims and proclamations have a tendency of trumping anything else going on, and the early days of the new U.S. administration promised more of the same. While the initial flurry of […] Read more
While the outlook is murky for 2025, expect similar outside forces to remain a feature in the year ahead. | Getty Images
Markets

Global forces played big role in shaping market last year

Glacier FarmMedia – Grain and oilseed markets had their ups and downs in 2024, with wars, labour unrest, trade disputes and politics often providing more direction than the traditional supply/demand fundamentals. While the outlook is murky for 2025, expect similar outside forces to remain a feature in the year ahead. Russia/Ukraine The conflict moved through […] Read more

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