Approximately 25 percent of the 2015 crop on the Canadian prairies was in the ground at the start of this week (May 4th), according to the weather and crop specialist with CWB Market Research. Dry conditions in southern Alberta, southwestern Saskatchewan and south-central/southeastern Manitoba have allowed seeding operations to advance ahead of average, with “virtually... Read More
Category: Markets
In theory, price transparency is required for a free market to be efficient. In reality, farmers like to know they’re getting a fair value for their grain. A lack of transparency was seen by some producers as one of the reasons why the Canadian Wheat Board’s monopoly needed to be dismantled. That wish was granted... Read More
Grains this we week were mostly pressured by a lower U.S. dollar, as the Canadian Loonie rebounded to a whopping 83 cents, and seeding conditions across most of North America remaining pretty good. U.S. export sales showcased more international buyers canceling old crop wheat contracts and switching things over to buying new crop. Despite that,... Read More
Whether it’s the 30 percent increase in oat acres expected in Western Canada this year, the news that one of the largest millers in the world won’t accept oats treated with glyphosate, or the underlying trend lower in the entire cereal crop complex, there’s plenty of uncertainty to go around in the oat market right... Read More
Remember last year, when hog prices spiked and concerns about high bacon prices hit headlines in the mainstream news? For pig producers and processors, those days are distant history, as the North American pork market has since undergone a major reversal. Not wanting to expose consumers to volatility, grocery stores generally lag behind the hog... Read More
Grains all ended the week lower as planting continues south of the 49th parallel with some activity here in Western Canada but things have been slowed by some sporadic, cooler weather. The USDA’s progress report is showing us that corn sowing is slightly behind schedule with the southeast and eastern regions way behind. As a... Read More
The grass is greening up, the calves are hitting the ground and the steaks are about to hit barbeques across North America, even as cattle prices flirt with new record highs. There’s no way around it — it’s a great time to be a cattle producer in Canada. No one begrudges the cattle industry some... Read More
Statistics Canada published its annual pre-seeding acreage estimates on Thursday morning. As expected, the planting intentions survey showed Canadian farmers plan to seed more wheat, oats and barley and less canola and soybeans than in 2014 (see chart.) There were some surprises in the report, as the canola acreage projection of 19.4 million acres was... Read More
Years of financial and regulatory challenges have taken a toll on pork production in Manitoba, to the point where the province’s largest hog processing facility now needs around 175 new barns built to operate at full capacity, according to the company’s president and CEO. Speaking at the Manitoba Pork Council annual meeting in Winnipeg on... Read More
Cattle markets typically have seasonal high and lows that you can track and capitalize on...except in the last while, when it seems the markets haven't stayed true to the more predictable pattern we've come to expect. With the first quarter of 2015 behind us, cattle markets are flirting with and surpassing record highs, but April... Read More