A combination of weather, currency and political factors should result in another huge South American crop of corn and soybeans, further depressing grain and oilseed prices, says an analyst. Pedro Dejneka, president of AGR Brasil, an affiliate of AgResource Company, is forecasting a record 173 million tonnes of South American soybean production and a sizeable […] Read more
Sean Pratt
Stories by Sean Pratt
Model-based forecasting debuts
Statistics Canada has made its first foray into model-based crop production estimates. On Sept. 17, it released its first official production forecast using the new approach. The forecast contained significant revisions to the canola and wheat production estimates from the July survey of farmers. “We’re the first or one of the first countries using modeling […] Read more
Developing countries’ subsidies worry U.S.
American wheat groups partly blame a 30 percent drop in wheat prices on subsidies in China, India, Turkey and Brazil
A trend toward excessive subsidies in developing countries is disrupting world wheat trade and depressing prices, according to a study commissioned by two U.S. wheat groups. The study, conducted by agricultural economists at Iowa State University, states that subsidies in China, India, Turkey and Brazil are costing U.S. wheat farmers nearly US $1 billion a […] Read more
Initial canola crop usually underestimated
The historical record shows that canola crops are usually a lot bigger than initially reported by Statistics Canada. Larry Weber, analyst with Weber Commodities, has compared the August production estimate to the final estimate over the past nine years. In eight of those years the final estimate was substantially higher than Statistics Canada’s first predictions. […] Read more
Lack of disease reduces prairie fungicide use
Drop was most pronounced in Alberta and Saskatchewan, where conditions were drier and less conducive to disease
Fungicide use in Western Canada fell by almost one-third this year, according to a survey conducted by Stratus Ag Research. Dry early season conditions in Saskatchewan and Alberta prompted farmers in those two provinces to cut back on fungicide applications. “Farmers are smart,” said Stratus vice-president Kent Fraser. “They recognized the condition their crop was […] Read moreChina’s subsidy change may boost canola exports
A shift in China’s rapeseed subsidy should eventually result in increased demand for Canadian canola, say industry officials. China has eliminated its national floor price for the crop and is leaving it up to the provinces to come up with individual subsidy programs. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that four of the nine rapeseed-growing […] Read more
Scoular to buy Legumex Walker special crops division
An American grain company has a deal in place to buy one of Canada’s biggest pulse and special crops firms. The Scoular Company will acquire the assets of Legumex Walker’s special crops division for $94 million. The value of the deal blossoms to $174.6 million with the addition of working capital, such as inventory, accounts […] Read more
New varieties expected to boost winter wheat acres
Winter wheat acres are expected to rebound this year. Jake Davidson, executive director of Winter Cereals Canada, is forecasting a modest increase in plantings after a big drop last fall. “My seed people tell me there’s reasonable demand for seed,” he said. Davidson believes growers in Manitoba and Saskatchewan will plant 325,000 to 350,000 acres […] Read more
Viterra to buy crushing plant
Canada’s largest grain company has finally become a major player in the oilseed processing business. Viterra has announced it will buy the largest oilseed crush facility in Eastern Canada for $190 million. The facility in Becancour, Que., is owned by a Malaysian company, Twin Rivers Technologies Holdings Entreprises De Transformaiton De Graines Oleagineuses Du Quebec […] Read more
Pulse exports on pace for banner year
Commodity experts predict huge volumes of lentils and peas to be shipped as India ramps up for ‘monstrous’ imports
Expect another “monstrous” pulse export program during the first half of 2015-16, say industry analysts. “It’s going to be huge,” said Chuck Penner, analyst with LeftField Commodity Research. Exports are on pace with last year’s record-setting program and he doesn’t see any let up for pea or lentil demand in the near future. “That has […] Read more
