Bank of Canada holds rates steady, cites economic slack

OTTAWA, Dec 7 (Reuters) – – The Bank of Canada pointed to undiminished uncertainty and a “significant amount” of slack in the Canadian economy as it held interest rates steady on Wednesday, noting that inflation is below expectations and growth set to slow as 2016 draws to a close. The decision by the central bank […] Read more

Statistics Canada lentil numbers confirm trade suspicions

Winnipeg, December 6 (CNS Canada) – New Statistics Canada data has confirmed what traders already assumed—lentil supplies aren’t lacking, despite excess moisture this year. Prices for the pulse had been trending lower with those suspicions, and buyers are looking to India for indications on where to move in the New Year. Statistics Canada estimates say […] Read more

Cash, pork prices drive CME hogs to 2-month high

CHICAGO, Dec 6 (Reuters) – Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures on Tuesday reached their highest level in two months, fueled by rising cash prices and decent pork demand, said traders. February and April futures punched through their respective 100-day moving average of 55.845 cents and 62.070 cents, which triggered fund buying and buy stops. […] Read more


Statscan: Canada harvests bigger wheat, canola crops despite snowy fall

WINNIPEG/OTTAWA, Dec 6 (Reuters) – Canada’s wheat and canola crops withstood unfavorable autumn weather, topping Statistics Canada’s previous estimates and last year’s production, according to the government agency’s report on Tuesday. Canola production was 18.4 million tonnes, up 0.3 percent from last year and the second-largest Canadian canola crop on record, but short of the […] Read more

CME hogs hit 1-1/2-month high on cash price optimism

CHICAGO, Dec 5 (Reuters) – Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures on Monday hit a 1-1/2-month high, spurred by expectations for stronger near-term cash prices, said traders. They said technical buying contributed to market advances. December hogs closed up 0.750 cent per pound to 51.500 cents. Most actively traded February ended 0.775 cent per pound […] Read more


Canola little changed over week as market awaits StatsCan report

Canola futures closed the week on an up note after spending much of the morning slightly lower on loonie strength. The January contract closed up $1.60 or 0.3 percent on the day. For the week, the contract rose just $1.10 or 0.2 percent. Canola held steady this week even as the trade, on average, forecasts […] Read more

A farmer feeds water to pigs at an enclosure in a pig farm in Liaocheng, Shandong province in 2015. An increase in Chinese hog production has major implications for the Canadian pork industry.
|  REUTERS/Stringer photo

Hog explosion threatens profits

The U.S. growth in production is not keeping pace with exports, and analyst warns of a price correction

CALGARY — China and the United States are both increasing hog production, and that has major implications for the Canadian pork industry, says an agricultural analyst. Brett Stuart, chief executive officer of Global AgriTrends in Denver, predicts that China will add 1.7 million tonnes of pork production next year and reduce its imports as a […] Read more

The U.S. government has set new biofuel targets in the United Sates, which boosted oilseed prices, included canola. This biodiesel filling station is in San Francisco.  |  REUTERS/Robert Galbraith photo

U.S. biofuel target boosts soyoil, canola

Oilseed prices, including canola, rose following the announcement of new U.S. biofuel targets last week. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s overall biofuel target of 19.28 billion gallons for 2017 was larger than expected and the component for advanced biofuels of 4.28 billion gallons, which includes biodiesel from vegetable oil, was particularly strong. On Nov. 27, […] Read more


John Szczepanski of the U.S. Forage Export Council says China is looking for high-quality alfalfa for the dairy sector.  |  Ed White photo

China’s growing dairy sector sees forage demand rise

The oft-ignored offshore forage market is getting bigger, even while some traditional markets are getting smaller, says the head of the U.S. forage exporters’ organization. “2016 registered the first time the Chinese market (was) a bigger export market than Japan,” John Szczepanski of the U.S. Forage Export Council said during the Canadian Forage and Grassland […] Read more

CME live cattle slide after hitting three-month peak

CHICAGO, Dec 1 (Reuters) – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures on Thursday peaked at a three-month high before profit-taking dropped contracts to near session lows, said traders. December live cattle closed down 0.175 cent per pound to 110.575 cents, and February ended 0.575 cent lower at 111.375 cents. CME live cattle futures receded in […] Read more