Durum wheat markets are turning out to have better potential than many thought.  |  photo by Michael Raine

Durum market looks promising

For farmers able to nurse their durum across the finish line this harvest, prices in the winter could make it worth their while. Withering heat and dry conditions have taken a toll on durum yields, especially in southern regions of the Prairies, but analysts like John Duvenaud of the Wild Oats Grain Market Advisory, have […] Read more

Canola dips based on soybean losses

Canola, like most crops, had a slightly down day in the futures markets Monday, but stayed comfortably within the $500-$510 per tonne zone of support and resistance with which it has flirted for months. November canola fell $1.70 per tonne to $508.60 and January fell $1.50 to $513.70. Soybean oil rose slightly Monday, but that […] Read more

End-of-month positioning pressures CME live cattle

CHICAGO, July 31 (Reuters) – Last Friday’s selling of Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle contracts carried over into Monday, led by sell-stops and position squaring on the last trading session of the month, traders and analysts said. Some investors sold August futures and simultaneously bought deferred contracts while cautiously awaiting this week’s cash prices. August […] Read more


Japan hikes tariffs on beef, troubles trade relations

By Reuters and Western Producer Staff Japan hiked tariffs on frozen beef imports from Canada, the United States and other counties on Friday. The tariff rises to 50 percent from 38.5 percent, until next March, Japan’s Ministry of Finance said. The tariff hike is a “safeguard” mechanism to protect domestic farmers, Japan’s ministry said. It […] Read more

Weekly market wrap – prices rise as weather stress continues

Crop futures rose Friday amid dry weather in large parts of Canada and the U.S. growing regions and hot conditions in the Prairies. November canola closed up $6.50 at $510.30. Compared to the previous Friday, November canola was up $5.50 per tonne, not bad considering that the loonie rose about three-quarters of a cent over […] Read more


US courts: Farmers over EPA-more biofuels

By Emily Flitter and Jarrett Renshaw NEW YORK, July 28 (Reuters) – The U.S. government may have to require more biofuels to be blended into the country’s fuel supply after a court ruled on Friday that the mandates must be reconsidered, a decision that boosted renewable fuel credits to seven-month highs on financial markets. The […] Read more

German wheat latest to be downgraded by rain

PARIS-HAMBURG, July 28 (Reuters) – The risk of quality damage in this summer’s German wheat harvest is increasing as rain soaks crops waiting to be cut, denting the European Union’s export prospects after France’s better-than-expected harvest results. Germany is still expected to harvest a large volume of wheat, supporting an anticipated rise in EU wheat […] Read more

EU slashes corn crop forecast, projects record imports

PARIS, July 28 (Reuters) – The European Commission cut its forecast for 2017-18 corn crop in the European Union by nearly 4 million tonnes to a five-year low, while raising projected imports of the grain to a record level. Usable production of corn was put at 58.4 million tonnes, compared with 62.1 million estimated a […] Read more



Bunge plans to restructure its global operations to cut costs by $250 million over the next two years.  |  file photo

Bunge struggles in tough market

CHICAGO, Ill. (Reuters) — Bunge Ltd.’s sweeping plans to overhaul its business and cut costs may not be enough to compensate for weak earnings and could still leave it vulnerable to a new bid from diversified rival Glencore PLC. Glencore’s current agricultural holdings include Viterra. Bunge is a part owner of G3 Canada and has […] Read more