Markets
Nobody’s expecting to make big profits in 2024-25, but that’s no reason to think some profitability can’t be squeezed out of this lemon. As Jenessa Peristerakis of Cargill said to growers at St Jean Farm Days Jan. 11: “There will be opportunities in bear markets.” There always are. So how do you set yourself up […] Read more
Markets
Producers urged to buy urea sooner than later
Trader says recent price spike is likely short-term, but farmers should make their purchases no later than mid-March
BRANDON — The global market for urea is in a period of mixed signals. Buyers in Australia and Southeast Asia made purchases in early January, putting upward pressure on price. Plus, stocks in North America are relatively low, which is also supportive of prices. On the other side of the coin, China may delay exports […] Read more
Too early to say 2024 will be stronger year for hog prices
Canadian pig producers are happy to put 2023 and its financial losses behind them, but will 2024 be any better? It appears producers in Canada and the United States are reducing the size of their breeding herds, which normally would reduce the supply of pigs and pork and support the price. But the January U.S. […] Read more
WP livestock report
Hogs The U.S. national live price average for barrows and gilts Jan. 12 was $35.09. It wasn’t available Jan. 5. U.S. hogs averaged $44.96 on a carcass basis Jan. 12, up from $44.56 Jan. 5. The U.S. pork cutout was $86.08 per hundredweight Jan. 12, up from $84.20 Jan. 5. The estimated U.S. weekly slaughter […] Read more
Canfax Report
This cattle market information is selected from the weekly report from Canfax, a division of the Canadian Cattle Association. More market information, analysis and statistics are available by becoming a Canfax subscriber by calling 403-275-5110 or at www.canfax.ca. Fed prices rally Alberta fed prices closed last week at $218.75 per hundredweight, 50 cents lower than […] Read more
Grain movement ‘humming along’ this winter
SASKATOON — Canada is dodging much of the grain shipping turmoil other exporters are facing, says Canada’s grain monitor. Total exports are about where they should be for this time of the year, said Mark Hemmes, president of Quorum Corp. “A large part of it has to do with the great weather we had before […] Read more
Canola recovery still possible
SASKATOON — Canada can still recover from its slow start to the 2023-24 canola export campaign, says an analyst. Exports are running about one million tonnes behind the pace needed to meet Agriculture Canada’s target of 7.7 million tonnes, said Chuck Penner, analyst with LeftField Commodity Research. Sales to China have been particularly lacklustre. However, […] Read more
Share concerns, build relationships with MPs, lobbyist says
Speak with your local MP on a regular basis and don’t be afraid to share your concerns with them regardless of their political affiliation, a long-time lobbyist told farmers. “Meet with your member of Parliament annually. That’s how you inform politicians. That’s where you can gain some real momentum and leverage. It only takes one […] Read more
Large supply likely to pressure mustard prices
A second big harvest in a row created a large carryout from the 2023-24 crop, while export program has been lackluster
SASKATOON — Chuck Penner does not think yellow and oriental mustard will experience their usual spring rallies this year. The best-case scenario would be flat prices, but they could easily “leak lower” like brown mustard prices tend to do starting in January. The early outlook for 2024-25 is not good either because of what he […] Read more
United Kingdom needs to abandon its cheesy behaviour
Why should Canada do a special favour for the United Kingdom when that country is discriminating against Canadian farmers and libelling Canada’s food safety standards? That eminently reasonable question has been raised in this space in recent months. It’s also being pointedly asked and discussed on page 12 of this week’s issue by none other […] Read more
