The federal government has revised the application deadline for the cash advance program to accommodate farmers with unharvested crops, but for some growers it isn’t going to help. The deadline for seeded advances was Aug. 31, 2016. After that date, farmers can get advances only for grain that is in the bin. However, a lot […] Read more
Sean Pratt
Stories by Sean Pratt
Have crop prices hit bottom?
Sean Pratt reports from the Oilseed & Grain Trade Summit in Minneapolis, Minn. MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Grain and oilseed prices have bottomed out, say analysts. “I do not think that the soybean market or the corn market will make a new low,” said David Hightower, founder of the Hightower Report. “I think the low is […] Read more
The ‘foodie’ generation
Sean Pratt reports from the Oilseed & Grain Trade Summit in Minneapolis, Minn. MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Farmers and food companies are ignoring millennials at their peril, says the author of a book on the food habits of 15 to 35 year olds. The generation makes up one-quarter of the world’s population and will surpass baby […] Read more
South America ready to grow its markets
Sean Pratt reports from the Oilseed & Grain Trade Summit in Minneapolis, Minn. MINNEAPOLIS, Min. — South America will dramatically expand its share of agricultural markets in the coming years, says an analyst. Jose Gobbee, director of GOAGRO, an agricultural investment management company, said Brazil and Argentina are expected to convert millions of acres into […] Read more
Oil prices set to rise for soy, canola
Expert predicts tight world stocks of vegetable oil will pressure prices for soy oil higher, which in turn will boost canola
Sean Pratt reports from the Oilseed & Grain Trade Summit in Minneapolis, Minn. MINNEAPOLIS, Min. — Market analysts are bearish on most agricultural commodities, but one is definitely bullish on soy oil, which bodes well for canola. Bill Lapp, president of Advanced Economic Solutions, said stocks of most agricultural commodities are rising, but that is […] Read morePolicy change may flood grain market
Sean Pratt reports from the Oilseed & Grain Trade Summit in Minneapolis, Minn. MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Wheat and corn exporters can expect increased competition from Argentina as farmers there adjust to the removal of punitive export taxes on most crops. “The past government was kind of anti-farming and mainly was capturing all the value that […] Read more
Rising organic imports cause price, quality concerns
Sean Pratt reports from the Oilseed & Grain Trade Summit in Minneapolis, Minn. MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — There is a growing supply gap in U.S. organic agriculture that needs to be addressed, says a food industry consultant. Organic exports have risen only slightly over the past five years to US$545 million in 2015 from $412 million […] Read more
Urea fertilizer prices stabilize as global supply tightens
Urea fertilizer prices are starting to firm after years of weakness. Chuck Magro, president of Agrium Inc., told investment analysts during a conference call announcing third quarter results that the tide is starting to shift. “Nitrogen prices have stabilized, and we have seen some recent global tightening of supply-demand, which has had a positive impact […] Read more
Camelina OK for hen rations
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has approved the inclusion of 10 percent camelina meal in layer hen rations. A promoter of the crop hopes that will be enough to convince someone to build a crush facility in Saskatchewan. The CFIA had previously approved camelina meal for broiler chicken rations at levels of up to 12 […] Read more
Black Sea wheat looks good
The wheat crop in the Black Sea region is in good shape heading into winter, which is creating the prospect for another big crop in 2017. The region produced a record 114 million tonnes of wheat this year because of good spring and summer growing conditions. UkrAgroConsult is forecasting 54.1 million tonnes of Black Sea […] Read more
