Sean Pratt

Sean Pratt

Reporter/Analyst

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Sean Pratt has been working at The Western Producer since 1993 after graduating from the University of Regina’s School of Journalism. Sean also has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Saskatchewan and worked in a bank for a few years before switching careers. Sean primarily writes markets and policy stories about the grain industry and has attended more than 100 conferences over the past three decades. He has received awards from the Canadian Farm Writers Federation, North American Agricultural Journalists and the American Agricultural Editors Association.

Stories by Sean Pratt

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates U.S. soybean production will reach a record 124.9 million tonnes in 2024-25. That has pushed prices 18 percent below the average estimated cost of production in that country. | File photo
Crop Management, Markets, News

Big U.S. soybean crop weighs on canola prices

SASKATOON — Analysts say Canadian canola prices are being weighed down by a massive soybean crop in the United States, but there is a glimmer of hope south of the border. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates U.S. soybean production will reach a record 124.9 million tonnes in 2024-25. That has pushed prices 18 per […] Read more
Paraquat is the active ingredient in a broad-spectrum herbicide marketed under the brand name Gramoxone. | File photo
News

Paraquat class action suit moves to next level

B.C. court certifies a lawsuit that alleges farm chemical sold by Syngenta from 1963 to 2017 causes Parkinson’s disease

SASKATOON — The Supreme Court of British Columbia has certified a class action lawsuit against Syngenta alleging a link between the chemical paraquat and Parkinson’s disease. “We’re off the starting blocks and we are busy trying to help our clients get access to justice for their injuries,” said Daniel Bach, partner with Siskinds law firm […] Read more
"It was a long haul, but it showed I was right, and they were wrong," said Tom Miller. | File photo
Livestock Management, News

Cattle protection charges dropped

Sask. producer was charged under the Animal Protection Act and the Criminal Code of Canada

SASKATOON — The crown has stayed all charges levied against a producer from Craik, Sask., for violating the province’s animal protection laws. “It was a long haul, but it showed I was right, and they were wrong,” said Tom Miller. “They came out here and they started bossing me around, and they didn’t know what […] Read more
GrainFox chief analyst Neil Townsend anticipates most of Canada’s new crop durum will be sold in the high-$7 to mid-$8 per bushel range. | File photo
Markets, News

Dry conditions hurt durum outlook

Southeast Saskatchewan is sole bright spot in durum growing areas SASKATOON — The latest U.S. durum production estimate could be a harbinger of what’s to come in Canada, says an analyst. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is now forecasting 2.09 million tonnes of U.S. production, down 14 percent from its July estimate. GrainFox chief analyst […] Read more
Wheat competition: Wheat prices fell for most of the world’s largest exporters during the last month, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Canada’s prices are now in the middle of the pack after leading the way for about eight months. | Source: International Grains Council and USDA
Markets

Price slip increases wheat’s competitiveness

Canadian wheat prices had been the highest among major exporters, but they have now dropped to the middle of the pack SASKATOON — Canada’s wheat prices have become more competitive of late, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. They were the highest of all the major exporters from November 2023 through June 2024, but […] Read more
Most jurisdictions where the companies operate have already approved the US$34 billion deal. Canada is one of the last ones remaining. | File photo
Crop Management, Markets, News

Bunge waits for merger decision

SASKATOON — Bunge is confident it will gain Canadian regulatory approval of its attempt to acquire Viterra. Most jurisdictions where the companies operate have already approved the US$34 billion deal. Canada is one of the last ones remaining. Related stories: “We continue to engage with the Government of Canada and expect to address questions and […] Read more
The lack of urea exports from China is having an effect on the global market. | File photo
Crop Management, Markets, News

Urea supply tight as China keeps exports low

SASKATOON — Global urea supplies are constrained, according to analysts. One of the main reasons for that tightness is the lack of exports from China, said Harry Minihan, editor of Argus Nitrogen. Related stories: At the start of the year, he was anticipating China would ship out three to four million tonnes of the product […] Read more
The USDA is now forecasting a record 4.59 billion bushel U.S. soybean crop, bumping up both its harvested acre and yield estimates from the July report. | File photo
Crop Management, Markets, News

Speculators drive grain prices lower

November soybean futures are well below the estimated cost of production of $11.90 per bushel

SASKATOON — A leading analyst says grain prices should be bottoming out, but a recent supply and demand report did not help matters. “We are already down to extremely cheap price levels on corn and beans,” said DTN lead analyst Todd Hultman. Related stories: “It’s just hard for me to imagine much more downside risk, […] Read more
If La Nina develops this summer as anticipated, it could bring unwelcome weather at the tail end of the growing season. | File photo
News, Weather

La Nina’s return could bring early frost to Prairies

The weather phenomenon’s arrival is not guaranteed, and some believe it would be a weak one if it does materialize

SASKATOON — Farmers in the northern Plains region of North America should keep a close eye on La Nina, says a meteorologist. If it develops this summer as anticipated, it could bring unwelcome weather at the tail end of the growing season. Related stories: “An early frost may be possible there in the Dakotas and […] Read more
One analyst has dropped his average canola yield estimate by two bushels to 40 bu. per acre since the heat wave arrived, which would shave one million tonnes off his total production estimate to 19.5 million tonnes. | Karen Briere photo
Crop Management, News

Hopes of bumper crop evaporate

SASKATOON — A prolonged hot and dry spell has withered notions of a Prairie-wide bumper crop. MarketsFarm analyst Bruce Burnett was forecasting a “close-to-record” crop after wrapping up a 3,500-kilometre, five-day crop tour in mid-July. Related stories: He doesn’t feel that way anymore after nearly three weeks of hot and dry weather. “There’s probably not […] Read more

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