Markets
Farmers’ ability to find and keep employees is probably being crippled by a new reality that exacerbates a bad, old reality: “It’s easier to pick and choose.” That observation was made by economist Chris Ferris when I met with him the other day to chat about the mystery of why so many industries and businesses […] Read more
Markets
Low chickpea stocks help boost price outlook
Higher kabuli prices are expected as the year goes on but for now Russian and Turkish supplies can likely meet demand
Kabuli chickpea buyers may be scrambling to secure supplies this year. “If you do the math, we’re probably a little short of (kabuli) chickpeas in the world and probably as the year goes on the price should get firmer,” said Colin Young, manager of Midwest Investments, a chickpea cleaner in Moose Jaw, Sask. In the […] Read moreWP livestock report
Hogs The U.S. national live price average for barrows and gilts Oct. 7 was $70.94, down from $72.79 last week. U.S. hogs averaged $86.89 on a carcass basis Oct. 7, up from $85.08 Sept. 30. The U.S. pork cutout was $101.54 per hundredweight Oct. 7, down from $97.59 Sept. 30. 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 Cattlemen’s 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 market sets record Over the span of six weeks the Canadian dollar has declined roughly five […] Read more
Poilievre names shadow cabinet
Alberta Conservative MP John Barlow will continue as the shadow minister for agriculture under the leadership of Pierre Poilievre. Poilievre announced his new critics Oct. 12. Barlow had endorsed Poilievre during the leadership campaign and had been the critic under previous leaders as well. Associate shadow ministers of agriculture are Warren Steinley, who represents Regina-Lewvan, […] Read more
Trouble lurks behind large wheat crop
Record global production expected this year, but analysts say not all is as it seems, particularly when it comes to Russia
The world wheat supply and demand situation is deceiving, says a grain analyst. On paper supplies look very comfortable. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is now forecasting record world production. But dig a little deeper and plenty of reasons for concern will be found, said Masha Belikova, grains reporter with FastMarkets Agriculture. Russia has a […] Read more
Ukraine war delivers blow to snack food sector
Reduced sunflower oil exports cause headaches for manufacturers as they change labels to accommodate new oils
The war in Ukraine dropped a bomb on snack food manufacturers, says an industry official. “The supply chain was already fragile,” said Christine Cochran, president of SNAC International, which represents various stakeholders in the industry. “What the war in Ukraine did was take a fragile system and further degrade it.” Ukraine accounts for nearly half […] Read more
Renewable diesel demand could pressure soybean exports
A new CoBank report suggests America’s renewable diesel craze could bring a halt to the country’s soybean exports by 2030. Renewable diesel capacity in the United States is on track to reach 24.6 billion litres by 2030, up from 5.7 billion litres in 2022. “Getting there means we need to crush an additional 3.4 billion […] Read more
Plenty of blame to go around with current financial crisis
With any luck, we’ll be done with what we could call the “harder-faster recession” by the time we’re drinking April wine. If we can get through what now looks like an inevitable recession by then, there’s a chance we’ll avoid killing the commodity bull market that has helped make these last couple of years a […] Read more
Recession fears weaken oil, but relief might be short-lived
Even as North American crude oil futures last week dropped below US$80 per barrel for the first time since January, some analysts argue that a return to $100 is possible in 2023. Several forces pushed and pulled on crude values, making trade volatile last week as bullish and bearish news competed for traders’ attentions. Crude, […] Read more
