Markets
The agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur bloc is fiercely opposed by some EU countries and farmers
MONTEVIDEO/BRUSSELS, (Reuters) — The European Union and South America’s Mercosur bloc struck an agreement on a long-delayed free trade deal earlier this month. However, it now faces a tortuous battle for approval in Europe, where there is stiff opposition from France. After negotiations spanning over 20 years, and five years on from an initial deal, […] Read more
Markets
Smaller canola crop raises price and rationing questions
A disappointing canola harvest is in the bin, judging by the November Statistics Canada crop survey released last week, setting up a potential supply squeeze later this crop year. However, with the Chinese anti-dumping investigation hanging over the market as well as the many worries associated with the incoming Trump administration, it is impossible to […] Read more
WP livestock report
Hogs The U.S. national live price average for barrows and gilts was not available Dec. 6 or Nov. 29. U.S. hogs averaged $80.13 on a carcass basis Dec. 6, down from $83.79 Nov. 29. The U.S. pork cutout was $90.31 per hundredweight Dec. 6, down from $90.31 Nov. 29. The estimated U.S. weekly slaughter to […] Read more
Canfax report
This cattle market information is selected from the weekly report from Canfax, a division of the Canadian Cattle Association. More market information, analysis and statistics are available by becoming a Canfax subscriber by calling 403-275-5110 or at www.canfax.ca. Packers seek cattle Leverage is beginning to tilt toward the cattle feeder. Lift times have tightened over […] Read more
Prairies expect warm, wet weather this winter
Meterologist says forecasts for the region are less reliable this season because an expected La Nina failed to materialize
SASKATOON — John Baranick’s weather forecast comes with the caveat that he has low confidence in the outlook. That’s because after months of anticipation, the La Nina weather event has failed to develop. Related stories: “That big driver is not there,” said DTN’s agricultural meteorologist. It is an odd situation because last winter’s weather was […] Read more
Russia’s troubled winter wheat may move prices
The crop has a higher risk of winterkill because of plants' already weakened condition and may have trouble recovering
SASKATOON — Winter wheat crops have deteriorated in Russia but are improving in the United States and the European Union. An estimated 37.2 per cent of Russia’s crop is rated in poor condition versus four per cent last year and the five-year average of 7.3 per cent. Related stories: It is the worst rating in […] Read more
U.S. ethanol exports to Canada soar
SASKATOON — Canada could be the saviour of the corn market, says an analyst. Scott Irwin, an agricultural economist at the University of Illinois, said the corn ethanol market in the United States is under duress from electric vehicles and other factors. Related stories: Fortunately, the shrinking domestic market for the biofuel is being offset […] Read more
Southern Hemisphere pressures wheat market
Increased wheat production in Argentina and Australia is expected to make 9.15 million more tonnes available for export
The wheat market continues to struggle, despite some positive news from the Black Sea region. Russia has announced a large drop in its wheat export potential by reducing the February through June export limit to 11 million tonnes. This is down 18 million tonnes from last year during the same period. The Russian government also […] Read more
Talking turkey about the actual cost of a holiday meal
A recent news story about the cost of an American Thanksgiving meal that triggered a social media response was interesting in several ways. It highlighted the public’s continuing concern with food inflation as well as its misunderstanding of how news operations work. Granted, this was a social media squall, not a storm, but it was […] Read more
Rain swells Mississippi River, speeding U.S. soy exports
Deeper water is allowing crop handlers to supply exporters with more grain per barge and to lash more barges together
CHICAGO (Reuters) — Exporters have shipped soybeans from the busiest U.S. grains port at the fastest rate in nearly four years after rain raised water levels in the Mississippi River, government data showed. Some 60 per cent of U.S. soy exports depart from Gulf Coast terminals that draw supplies from barges traveling south on the […] Read more
