Following a recently completed 3,500-kilometre crop tour of the three Prairie provinces, MarketsFarm analyst Bruce Burnett says the cereal crops looked particularly stunning. | File photo

Bumper crop potential grows

LANGHAM, Sask. — Western Canadian farmers are sitting on a bumper crop, according to a leading grain analyst. “If we have a nice harvest period, we have the potential for having a close-to-record crop on the Prairies this year,” said MarketsFarm analyst Bruce Burnett. That observation is based on a recently completed 3,500-kilometre crop tour […] Read more

Agriculture Canada’s new ending stock estimate for canola would likely have been higher if the department had increased its production estimate due to widespread early-season rainfall. Despite vastly improved growing conditions this spring, some analysts are waiting to increase their production estimates because much of the crop is either not in the ground yet, has just been seeded or has not yet germinated.  |  Mickey Watkins photo

Lower canola exports to increase ending stocks

Agriculture Canada boosts ending stocks estimate, but analysts say it must go higher due to the ‘abysmal’ state of exports

SASKATOON — Agriculture Canada has increased its estimate for 2024-25 canola ending stocks, but analysts think it didn’t go far enough. Carryout was bumped to 2.5 million tonnes in the May outlook, up from 1.65 million tonnes in April. Related stories: That is due in a large part to an increase in carry-in, which is […] Read more

After scouting 449 fields, primarily in Kansas, the tour came up with an average yield of 46.5 bushels per acre. | File photo

U.S. winter wheat crop looks good

Recent tour uncertain if projections will hold to end of the season

SASKATOON — The winter wheat crop in the United States is in better condition than the government is forecasting, according to a recent crop tour. After scouting 449 fields, primarily in Kansas, the tour came up with an average yield of 46.5 bushels per acre. “Our yields came in much higher certainly than I was […] Read more


The U.S. Department of Agriculture believes China will import a record 109 million tonnes of soybeans in 2024-25, but in the future that could change if a long-range forecast by Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) comes true. | Reuters photo

China’s imports to determine prices

The USDA estimates that China's buying needs will jump by 2034, while a Chinese science academy says they will shrink

SASKATOON — China’s crop imports are forecast to be robust in the year ahead, but the Chinese government is predicting a major contraction over the next decade. The U.S. Department of Agriculture believes China will import a record 109 million tonnes of soybeans in 2024-25. Related stories: Corn imports are forecast at 23 million tonnes, […] Read more

U.S. farmers are expected to plant 47.5 million acres of wheat this year. That is in line with where acres have been since 2017. But it is a far cry from the peak of 88.25 million acres achieved in 1981. There has been a continual decline in wheat since that heyday more than four decades ago. | File photo

U.S. wheat acres stop downward slide

American production has been falling for the last 40 years but it's not certain that this has benefited Canadian growers

SASKATOON — The freefall in U.S. wheat acres appears to have bottomed out. Farmers in that country are expected to plant 47.5 million acres of the crop this year, which is where acres have been since 2017. Related stories: However, it is a far cry from the peak of 88.25 million acres achieved in 1981. […] Read more


"The bottom line is, it comes back to Russia. Are they going to be able to have a big enough crop again this year to dominate world exports and hold prices down, or not?" DTN lead analyst Todd Hultman said during a recent webinar. "That's going to be the key." |  Reuters photo

Wheat price outlook hinges on Russia

The market has already begun to respond as dry conditions and now frost significantly threaten production this year

SASKATOON — The 2024-25 wheat market outlook hinges on one key question. “The bottom line is, it comes back to Russia. Are they going to be able to have a big enough crop again this year to dominate world exports and hold prices down, or not?” DTN lead analyst Todd Hultman said during a recent […] Read more

"We believe the evidence shows Chinese companies are competing unfairly by selling product into Canada at dumped and subsidized prices," Nutri-Pea said in an email. |  File photo

Pea protein sector wants duty

Manufacturers claim Chinese companies are exporting product into Canada at subsidized prices

SASKATOON — Canadian pea protein manufacturers have filed an anti-dumping and countervailing duty case against Chinese imports. “We believe the evidence shows Chinese companies are competing unfairly by selling product into Canada at dumped and subsidized prices,” Nutri-Pea said in an email. Related stories: The Portage la Prairie, Man., company manufactures food-grade protein isolates, starches […] Read more

Exports to Mexico totaled 279,900 tonnes through the first seven months of the 2023-24 campaign. That is down from 801,100 tonnes for the same period a year ago, a 65 percent drop. | Viterra photo

Canadian canola exports to Mexico plummet 65 per cent

Canada is expected to remain Mexico's largest supplier of canola, but Australia is making major inroads in that market

SASKATOON — Canada’s canola shipments to Mexico are plummeting. Exports to that destination totaled 279,900 tonnes through the first seven months of the 2023-24 campaign. Related stories: That is down from 801,100 tonnes for the same period a year ago, a 65 percent drop. Canadian canola sales have generally been lacklustre to date, but the […] Read more


If the reports out of Russia on plans to increase durum production materialize, demand and pricing in the next year will be affected, said Leif Carlson, director of market intelligence and trade policy with Cereals Canada. However, he noted news out of Russia isn’t always reliable.  |  File photo

Global durum competition is heating up

Russia could drastically increase durum production this year, but could be shut out of the European Union market

SASKATOON — Canada could face stiff competition in durum markets in 2024-25 as Russia ramps up production. Rossella Polito, an Italian durum farmer who posts as @spiga_dorata on the X social media platform, said the Russian Grain Union reports that farmers will plant 2.47 million acres of durum this year, double the size of last […] Read more

U.S. growers plan to seed 11.34 million acres of spring wheat, a 1.2 percent increase over last year and 2.03 million acres of durum, a 21 percent bump, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. | File photo

U.S. wheat intentions exceed expectations

SASKATOON — Growers in the United States intend to plant slightly more spring wheat and a lot more durum than last year. They plan to seed 11.34 million acres of spring wheat, a 1.2 percent increase over last year and 2.03 million acres of durum, a 21 percent bump, according to the U.S. Department of […] Read more