Markets
After years of flat demand, North America’s potato industry is enjoying a wave of investment. In early May, McCain Foods announced a $200 million expansion of its processing plant in Burley, Idaho. That comes on the heels of a December announcement by Cavendish Farms. It plans to build a $350 million frozen potato processing plant […] Read more
Markets
Investment sizzles as potato demand grows
Spring hog rally creates hedging opportunities
Farmers in Canada and the United States haven’t been shy to peg some prices in the recent hog market rally. “They’ve taken to the recent rally and used it as a pricing point,” said Tyler Fulton, director of risk management for Hams Marketing. “Producers are viewing this as a trigger to price.” That makes sense, […] Read more
WP livestock report
Hogs gain Strong pork exports and expectations that market-ready supply will get smaller seasonally lifted hog prices. U.S. hogs averaged US$70.86 on a carcass basis May 19, up from $69.73 May 12. The U.S. pork cutout was $87.26 per cwt. May 19, up from $83.29 May 12. The estimated U.S. weekly slaughter for the week […] 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 cattle lower The Canfax weighted average fed steer price was $174.44, down $5.58, and heifers were […] Read more
Minneapolis spring wheat premium widens over winter wheat
WINNIPEG — Concerns over poor quality North American wheat crops have seen the Minneapolis spring wheat premium widen over Kansas City winter wheat. That spread could grow wider heading into the summer, according to a U.S. analyst. The nearby Minneapolis spring wheat contract settled up 3.75 cents May 18, while the corresponding Kansas City hard […] Read more
Expanding Chinese pig production is no black swan
Let’s talk about black swans and pigs in this column. The black swan is a metaphor, while the pigs are real. When I was in university, I had a summer job in a park in Moose Jaw, Sask. The park has a beautiful creek that was stocked with swans and ducks. One spring, the city […] Read more
Weather-generated flash rallies requires quick action
Farmers might be frustrated when major negative weather events fail to stimulate lasting price rallies, but they should learn to value the opportunities generated by weather rallies that are too good to last. That’s what we saw with the recent wheat market rally ignited by the snowstorm and heavy rain that hit the southern U.S. […] Read more
Russian grain exports likely steady in 2017-18
MOSCOW, May 25 (Reuters) – Russia will have about the same amount of grain to offer the global market in 2017-18 despite a smaller crop thanks to record stocks, SovEcon agriculture consultancy said. Russia will start the new 2017-18 season on July 1 with all-time high grain stocks of 20.3 million tonnes, up 64 percent […] Read more
Lower North American durum acres keeps attention on yields
Winnipeg, May 24 (CNS Canada) – North America’s smaller durum acreage base in 2017 could give prices a boost later in the growing season, depending on how yields shape up for the new crop, according to a U.S. analyst. Disease issues in 2016 and better projected returns for other crops in 2017 are expected to […] Read more
Top grains traders face tough choice: Partner, merge or wait for bad weather
By Tom Polansek CHICAGO, May 24 (Reuters) – Commodity trader Glencore Plc’s confirmation on Tuesday that it sought a tie up with grains trader Bunge Ltd likely signals the start of a wave of consolidation and partnering in the industry, as middlemen struggle to make profits amid a massive global food glut. Bunge and other […] Read more
