Repeated rain storms saturated some fields in eastern North Dakota.  |  Ed White photo

Seeding slow in North Dakota

U.S. crops | Growing conditions and prices make wheat unattractive

FARGO, North Dakota — A sickly sheen shines off the surface of scores of saturated eastern North Dakota farm fields, making a drive from Winnipeg to Fargo last week an exercise in not seeing farm machinery move. Seeding progress is much delayed in significant patches of eastern North Dakota as cold, soaking rains caused some […] Read more

With all indications that new crop grain prices will be lower than current old crop prices, there is strong incentive to sell the remainder of the 2012 crop before harvest.  |  File photo

Analyst recommends selling before fall

Sell old crop now | Feed barley buyers among those expecting lower prices

This is an ideal time for farmers to sweep the bins clean and market every kernel they’ve got left. It’s also not a bad time to price new crop grain if farmers haven’t already done so. Prairie grain market analysts say cash prices are likely to fall to where the futures and basis say they […] Read more

American growers are expected to plant the largest corn crop since 1936 this year.   |  File photo

U.S. corn supply drives down prices

USDA reports | Corn inventories exceed projections as U.S. farmers prepare for possible record-setting crop

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Reuters) — Grain prices fell recently on a report that showed U.S. corn inventories were larger than expected as of March 1. The news eased a near-term supply crunch ahead of a potentially record-setting crop that will be planted in coming weeks. In a pair of reports issued March 28, the U.S. Department […] Read more


U.S. wheat sales have increased to between 23.9 and 25.7 million bu. per week recently, but they may still not meet the USDA’s estimate for the year.  |  File photo

Analyst says exports may fall short

Wheat market | While numbers are up, U.S. analyst is unsure if wheat exports will meet estimates

The pace of North American wheat exports has been picking up, but the U.S. will still fall short of its 2012-13 target, says an analyst. Arlan Suderman, senior market analyst with Water Street Solutions of Peoria, Illinois, thinks exports could be 1.5 to two million tonnes short of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 28.58 million […] Read more

Prairie grain growers are taking a cautious approach to marketing wheat. Unfamiliarity with the new market, uncertainty over basis levels and the potential for rallies in the futures markets are all factors in the delay.  |  File photo

Farmers hold back on cereal deliveries

CWB harvest pool closes | Producers holding onto most of this year’s crop as they decide where to market their grain

Farmers are holding back most of this year’s cereal crop as they feel their way through the newly deregulated wheat market. The CWB estimates producers are holding onto 65 to 80 percent of this year’s wheat and durum crops. The agency warns that if this goes on for too long, the backlog of undelivered wheat […] Read more


Marketing experts are advising farmers to increase on-farm grain storage.  |  File photo

On-farm grain storage gives farmers options

Grain marketing improves | Demise of CWB single desk prompts farmers’ desire to store grain longer

Increased on-farm storage is giving farmers more marketing options for their grain, say industry officials. Derek Johnson, sales manager of Twister and Grain Guard bins, said there is a trend toward bigger and better storage. “We’re really seeing that transition now, not only to more on-farm storage but more segregated storage for specialty crops and […] Read more

Threat of Russian export limit supports wheat

We are in an unusual situation where durum cash prices are lower than spring wheat values. Both are at attractive levels because of the U.S. drought and a smaller Black Sea wheat crop. Indeed, the Black Sea situation might be the best hope for a new rally in a grain market that appeared to run […] Read more

After a recommendation from the Western Standards Committee, a new barley class has been added to the Official Grain Grading Guide for varieties bred for good use. | Michael Raine photo

Classifications change for barley, lentil producers

Barley and red lentil producers in Western Canada have recently seen several changes to the way their crops are graded and classified. Last week, the hulless barley class was eliminated from the Official Grain Grading Guide and a new food barley class was added. The changes were recommended by the Western Standards Committee earlier this […] Read more


Welcome to a new era of marketing freedom

Somehow I just couldn’t share the Aug. 1 euphoria. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not among the crowd who thinks the sky is falling with the ending of the CWB monopoly. The old system had a lot of problems. However, marketing freedom won’t always be a bed of roses either. Friends texting me from the […] Read more

A drought-damaged corn field is pictured near Emery, Iowa, July 27. Although there was rain and cooler weather in some drought-hit areas last week, overall production is predicted to decline. | Reuters/Karl Plume photo

Lock in grain prices now, analyst advises

A grain market analyst thinks markets are responding to this year’s drought in the United States the way they did to the last big drought in that country. In 1988, U.S. corn, soybean and wheat production fell 31 percent, 20 percent and 14 percent respectively compared to the previous year due to dry conditions. This […] Read more