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

Markets

Canaryseed outlook depends on late harvest success

If farmers manage to harvest their canaryseed crops there should be plenty of supply, but that’s a big if, says an analyst. Saskatchewan Agriculture reports that half of the crop was still in fields as of Oct. 24. Canaryseed and flax are typically the last crops harvested, so it is not unusual for farmers to […] Read more
News

Feds explore increase in cash advance

Norm Hall is unaccustomed to getting such a quick response to planting a seed. A few weeks ago the president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan met with federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay regarding grain transportation concerns. As the minister was rushing out the door to catch a plane, Hall took the opportunity to […] Read more
Canada’s chickpeas might be the crop most devastated by the poor fall weather. This photo shows the harvest of a research plot in a snowy field back in November 2004, but this year farmers are debating if it’s worth combining what will likely be feed grade product. | File photo
Markets

Is the chickpea crop worth saving?

Three-quarters of Saskatchewan’s chickpea crop remains in the field and is in terrible condition, say analysts. Saskatchewan Agriculture reports that 25 percent of the crop had been combined as of Oct. 24, compared to an average of 82 percent for all crops. “The Canadian chickpea crop is a disaster,” said Marlene Boersch, analyst with Mercantile […] Read more
Markets

India preps for record harvest

Analysts are divided over reports of a record-smashing Indian kharif or summer pulse crop harvest. The Indian government estimates farmers will harvest 8.7 million tonnes of pulses this fall, up 22 percent from the previous record. That includes 4.3 million tonnes of pigeon peas, which is 35 percent higher than the previous record for that […] Read more
Markets

Chinese wheat subsidies called clear trade violation

China continues to flagrantly violate its World Trade Organization obligations, says U.S. Wheat Associates. The Chinese government set its 2017 state wheat purchase price at 2,360 yuan per tonne last week, which is unchanged from the previous two years. That amounts to $349 US per tonne or $9.50 per bushel, which is about double what […] Read more
News

How will the federal carbon tax affect the fertilizer industry?

Canada’s fertilizer industry is trying to understand what effect a federal carbon tax will have on the sector. Garth Whyte, president of Fertilizer Canada, which represents Canadian manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers of nitrogen, phosphate and potash fertilizer, said there are too many variables and unanswered questions. The federal government is implementing a minimum nation-wide carbon […] Read more
News

Broker offers security option

Licensed grain companies have another option to choose from when providing security to the Canadian Grain Commission. Global Credit Risk Management, an insurance broker specializing in accounts receivable products, has developed an insurance product in conjunction with the commission that is now ready for sale. The new product will compete with the existing insurance, letters […] Read more
APAS wants the federal government to change the rules of the cash advance program to allow farmers to receive advances on the crop that remains in the field.
 | Barb Glen photo
News, Weather

Unharvested grain throws wrench in cash-advance plan

Jeremy Welter usually relies on fall cash advances to pay his bills and provide him with the flexibility to market his crops when he wants. That won’t happen this fall because the cash-advance program requires his grain to be in the bin for collateral. Unfortunately, two-thirds of his crop was still in the field as […] Read more
This map from the NOAA Climate Prediction Center shows sea surface temperature anomolies from Sept. 25 to Oct. 22. The blue area in the central Pacific Ocean indicates cooling water temperatures and a trend toward a La Nina event. There is now about a 70 percent chance of a La Nina forming before the end of this year. La Ninas tend to deliver drier weather to Argentina and southern Brazil. | NOAA image
Markets, Weather

Pundits disagree on La Nina impacts

Market analyst expects La Nina will cut Argentina’s corn crop, while weather expert downplays the system

A well-know weather expert disagrees with analysts who are reducing South America’s production prospects due to a looming La Nina event. Reuters reports that one of its own analysts has decreased his estimate for Argentina’s potential corn harvest by more than eight million tonnes. That is because forecasters at the United States National Oceanic and […] Read more
Cows that supply Dannon’s milk for the three flagship brands will be fed non-GM feed starting in 2017, which will require the conversion of 80,000 acres of farmland to non-GM crops.
 | File photo
News

Dannon switches to non-GM

A food manufacturer’s pledge to make yogurt with non-genetically modified ingredients has raised the ire of U.S. farm groups and the eyebrows of a Canadian grain industry executive. Dannon is transforming its Danimals, Oikos and Dannon brands of yogurt to contain no GM ingredients. Those three brands account for half of the company’s sales. Cows […] Read more

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