Grain prices this week had a positive week for the first time in nearly 2 months. Almost feels like Christmas! Usually weather premiums are added to the market in late May through to June. However, this year, that seasonal pattern was idled thanks to an excellent start to the 2018 growing season in North America... Read More
Category: Markets
Grain markets lost a fair amount in the second week of July and heightened geopolitical risk (read: trade war) and some decent-looking crops have negatively impacted grain prices. The latter factor was surmised by this week’s July 2018 WASDE report, which provided a reset of the goalposts when it comes to global agricultural supplies and... Read More
Canada imports more than half the lamb it consumes, which spells opportunity for our sheep farmers, but that opportunity isn't the easiest to capitalize on. In the interview below, Marc Carere, vice chair of Ontario Sheep Farmers, talks to Shaun Haney about the tremendous amount of potential — but also incredible challenges —of this still-maturing... Read More
Despite what Chinese government officials say, most market analysts and traders believe China will need to buy soybeans from the U.S. this year, even if it means paying a 25 per cent tariff. "The question is not whether China is eventually going to have to buy U.S. soybeans. I think we all agree they have... Read More
In a perfect world, you'd price grain several times a year, locking in a percentage of production at a profit, as determined by a complete cost of production figure. But farming isn't perfect, and only the truly disciplined (and lovers of all things marketing) have annual pricing plans and stick with them. In reality, bills... Read More
The Bank of Canada increased the target interest rate today by 0.25%, to 1.5%. This is now the fourth rate hike, amounting to 1%, since the Bank hiked rates for the first time since 2007 a year ago. Over the last year, the Bank of Canada has matched the aggressiveness of the U.S. Federal Reserve,... Read More
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has decided to no longer offer reporters a "lockup" period to digest its crop and livestock reports before they're released to the public, as of August 1, 2018. The change in procedure is meant to address concerns about news agency clients getting a head start on trading based on... Read More
Canada's retaliatory tariffs against the United States — worth $16.6 billion — will clearly come at a cost, not only to the American economy, but also the Canadian economy. Despite the likely economic fallout from this trade spat, both sides in this dispute are talking about being disciplined and patient and trying to take a... Read More
At one point in the fall of 2017 soybeans looked like the crop to grow in 2018, as it was going to be the first year ever that soybean acres would be higher than corn and demand was strong. Since the U.S. put its trade agenda with China into action, soybean future prices have really... Read More
When the live cattle futures are limit up, it's a good day for cattle feeders. In these turbulent trade war times, any of the commodities will take a positive day. Cattle futures have been somewhat separated from the downward swing of soybeans, lean hogs, and wheat, but sometimes commodities are guilty by association. The table... Read More