A wide gap is emerging between federal and provincial government canola yield estimates. Statistics Canada’s latest satellite-based forecast issued on Sept. 14 calls for an average of 39.6 bushels per acre in Saskatchewan. That is a far cry from Saskatchewan Agriculture’s first estimate of the year forecasting a provincial yield of 35 bu. per acre. […] Read more
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Farmer response to consumer demands called sluggish
Researcher warns that processors may start producing their own food if they don’t receive what they need from farmers
Farmers should heed the advice of famous Scottish economist Adam Smith, says a market researcher. “What Adam Smith said was, don’t make what you want to make, make what the market is asking for,” said Brett Sciotto, chief executive officer of Aimpoint Research. “Make what the market wants and get paid a premium rather than […] Read more
Patience advised when selling peas
China has taken over from India as a major buyer from Canada, but that means prices could improve later in the year
China appears eager to buy new crop peas from Canada, and that’s a blessing because India will likely be completely out of the market, says an analyst. Canada shipped 750,000 tonnes of bulk peas in August, according to the Canadian Grain Commission. That is up from 448,000 tonnes a year ago. It appears like a […] Read more
Small EU canola crop likely to increase demand
Strong sales to Europe through the port of Thunder Bay will be particularly good news for growers on eastern Prairies
One of Canada’s top canola customers in 2019-20 is expected to be a major player again this year and that should result in elevated basis levels in the eastern Prairies, says an analyst. The United States Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) forecasts that farmers in the European Union will harvest 16.6 million tonnes […] Read more
Canada gains influence on trade committee
Canada has been elected chair of an important and influential World Trade Organization committee and it couldn’t come at a better time, says an agriculture industry executive. Canada is heading up the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures Committee, a forum where WTO countries can raise concerns surrounding food safety and animal and plant life and […] Read more
Sask. canola estimate feels the heat
A wide gap is emerging between federal and provincial government yield estimates for crops like canola and durum. Saskatchewan Agriculture’s first estimate of the year calls for a provincial average canola yield of 35 bushels per acre, which is well below Statistics Canada’s forecast of 41.1 bu. per acre. Shannon Friesen, crops extension specialist with […] Read more
Wheat price direction up in the air
Some make the case for lower prices due to overproduction, while others say that ignores strong demand for the crop
A Russian wheat analyst sees a bear market on the horizon due to overproduction while a Canadian analyst is slightly bullish for some types of wheat due to strong demand for the crop. Andrey Sizov, managing director of SovEcon, a Russian agricultural consultancy firm, thinks wheat prices are going to fall. He believes the only […] Read more
China’s hunger for soybeans surprises Bunge executive
Company says Asian country’s rapidly recovering hog sector following African swine fever is behind increase in demand
Greg Heckman, chief executive officer of Bunge Limited, has been taken aback by surging global soybean demand. “One of the big drivers is how quick China’s sows and hogs have come back,” he told investment analysts during a recent conference call. “Their meal demand has recovered much more quickly than any of us thought.” Historically […] Read more
Tight supply boosts prospects for flax market
There are reports that the crop yields in the Black Sea region may be in trouble, particularly Russia and Kazakhstan
A small Canadian carryout combined with production problems in the Black Sea region bodes well for the flax market, say analysts. “You’ve got snug supplies so to me flax can maintain an elite pricing structure for the year,” said Greg Kostal, analyst with Kostal Ag Consulting. It is difficult to ascertain production information out of […] Read more
COVID continues to hammer restaurant sector
Foodservice sales have rebounded since the start of the pandemic, but recovery is slow and could worsen this winter
Food sales are rebounding in the restaurant industry but are still a far cry from pre-COVID-19 levels, according to recent statistics. Commercial foodservice sales in Canada were $4.1 billion in June, up from a pandemic low of $2.4 billion in April but still well below pre-COVID levels of $6.3 billion in February, according to Statistics […] Read more
