The USDA is now forecasting a record 4.59 billion bushel U.S. soybean crop, bumping up both its harvested acre and yield estimates from the July report.  |  File photo

Speculators drive grain prices lower

November soybean futures are well below the estimated cost of production of $11.90 per bushel

SASKATOON — A leading analyst says grain prices should be bottoming out, but a recent supply and demand report did not help matters. “We are already down to extremely cheap price levels on corn and beans,” said DTN lead analyst Todd Hultman. Related stories: “It’s just hard for me to imagine much more downside risk, […] Read more

A grain exchange proposal for BRICS was first tabled by the Russian Union of Grain Exporters in December 2023, but it didn’t gain traction until March 2024 when the idea was endorsed by Russian President Vladimir Putin. BRICS is a trade alliance comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.  |  Reuters photo

BRICS grain cartel unlikely

SASKATOON — Russia is spearheading efforts to establish an OPEC of the grain trade, but industry officials in North America doubt it will happen or that it will have much influence if it does. Russia is urging the BRICS trade alliance to form an inter-bloc grain exchange, according to an article published by World Grain. […] Read more


Corn is important for the whole grain complex because it tends to set the tone for the market. | File photo

Market’s mindset is all about ‘comfortable’ crop supply

Grain glut,” “ample supply,” “supply pressure”: these phrases are showing up in market reports to describe crop supplies, particularly corn stocks. Corn is important for the whole grain complex because it tends to set the tone for the market. On Feb. 23 Chicago corn futures fell below US$4 a bushel for the first time since […] Read more

"The month of March should be a catalyst that should at least start to stabilize things, I would think," said a canola trader who preferred to remain anonymous. | Reuters photo

Trader thinks grain markets could stabilize next month

Managed money has been 'massively short' in the grain market, but there are signs that may be gradually changing

SASKATOON — The bear run in grain markets could be coming to a merciful end, says an analyst. “The month of March should be a catalyst that should at least start to stabilize things, I would think,” said a canola trader who preferred to remain anonymous. Related stories: Market’s comfort with grain stocks pushes down […] Read more


Most prairie farmers in the 1950s, when this photo was taken, appeared satisfied with marketing their grain through the Canadian Wheat Board, but opposition was on the horizon.  |  File photo

Grain marketing debate was long and heated

A clash of visions between open and controlled markets dominated the prairie ag landscape for much of the last century

Murray Fulton didn’t hesitate when asked to identify an overarching theme in grain marketing on the Canadian Prairies over the last century. “It’s the big question — should you rely on markets, or should you rely on some kind of more controlled system, whether it’s co-op owned, or government controlled?” said the University of Saskatchewan […] Read more

Commodity markets, however, wait for no one and, like our politics, grain futures have been slipping, sliding and slouching since early summer. | File photo

Congress plays games as grain markets continue to go south

Evidence continues to pile up that today’s political and grain market pile-ups will be bigger and messier than first thought. Right now, it’s political carnage that’s making headlines. I’m old enough to remember when Congress’s biggest worry was foreign bombs, not bombast, and when congressional leaders muzzled their party’s empty-headed lip flappers. Not today, though. […] Read more