Markets
Crop futures markets finished off the week on an up note on Friday, recouping some of the losses posted earlier in the week. It was a case of bargain buying and weather insurance as hot, dry weather continues to dominate the central plains of the U.S. and Canada. Some weather forecast models also suggested it […] Read more
Markets
Crop rally Friday limits weekly price decline
Canola suffers under northern U.S. drought
It’s been well reported that spring wheat is suffering from drought this year in the U.S. northern Plains, but canola is, too. “We’re supposed to hit 100 F here the next couple of days, while it’s in bloom,” John Rickertsen, a North Dakota State University extension agronomist at Hettinger, 20 kilo-metres from the South Dakota […] Read more
Feed barley prices shoot higher
Stressful weather, reduced acreage shrinks feed supply while deteriorating grass conditions could push cattle into feedlots
A surge in feed barley prices in late June and early July caught many market watchers and buyers off guard. Most traders assumed prices would eventually rise, but the abrupt jump higher was a surprise. “I think the trade was shocked at how quickly it went from ‘we will eventually get higher’ to ‘we are […] Read moreBee conditions improve, prices up for honey
Things are looking better for Canadian honey producers after a tough spring. Honey prices are up compared to 2016 and staggered seeding dates for canola should provide a longer bloom and more time for bees to forage, but the cool spring was hard on many colonies across the Prairies. “We had a tough April. Central […] Read more
Investment decisions must be based on data, not hope
We go to trade shows across Western Canada throughout the year, and most recently attended Canada’s Farm Progress Show in Regina. We typically have a booth at the shows and look to talk to farmers and farm families about the opportunities, successes and challenges they experience in managing their businesses. It can be tricky to […] Read more
Weather hurts wheat and canola yields; will corn be next?
After a two-day breather late last week, crop prices rose again July 10 as the footprint of hot dry weather in North America spread out. The stress on canola crops pushed the new crop futures price up, topping $530 a tonne, the highest in about a year. Much of Saskatchewan and pockets of Manitoba have […] Read more
Shell plans to take biofuel technology to next level
A major oil company could soon become a big player in Canada’s biofuel sector. Royal Dutch Shell has acquired exclusive development and licensing rights for SBI BioEnergy’s biofuel technology. SBI is an Edmonton company that has developed a novel approach for creating biofuel out of plant oil and animal fat. The company uses a catalytic […] Read more
Where’s the beef — and where’s it going?
The world of beef is undergoing big disruptions with renewed trade between United States and China, a cattle slaughter ban in India and political upheaval and corruption scandals in Brazil’s processing sector. Nevertheless, beef is holding its own among global consumers, said analyst Don Close of Rabobank. “Beef has had a phenomenal year and a […] Read more
Market Notes: July 13, 2017
India pulse seeding picks up Analysts had expected that low pulse prices in India would discourage seeding of the crop, but so far farmers are sticking with it. Up to July 7 farmers had seeded 10.9 million acres of pulses, up from 8.9 million at the same point last year. Planting will continue for at […] Read more
WP LIVESTOCK REPORT: July 13, 2017
HOGS RISE Rising U.S. pork prices, particularly bellies, supported hog prices. The U.S. pork cutout hit the highest level in two years. The price for bellies, which are used to make bacon, were starting to close in on the record price set in April 2014. Demand for bacon is good during the heat of summer […] Read more
