Today’s Canfax COF report for May 1 exposes the current feedlot inventory situation. As of May 1, total numbers on feed were down 7% from last year, down 10% from 2010 and the smallest May 1 inventory other than 2008. Coincidentally, that was also a year that saw large exports of feeder cattle during the... Read More
Category: Markets
Like a company reporting earnings to the market, StatsCan released their stocks report. The clear indication from the report is that canola stocks are very low. As we look at the current 2012 seeding season (follow #plant12), this report does not provide increased planting incentive that wasn't already there. The intended 20 million acres of... Read More
August 1, 2012 officially changes the way the wheat producers and industry members do business out west. With that date spelling the end of the single desk marketing system, farmers, buyers and processors have to look closely at their respective businesses and adapt to a whole new ball game. For some involved in the industry,... Read More
As we head closer into the Western Canadian spring we have always seen a premium in fertilizer prices. Typically, local supply demand fundamentals become the key driver of price and international markets fall more to the side. The historical premium in the market that is created is based on the fact that local fertilizer manufacturers... Read More
The story for corn in 2012 is going to depend on a number of things. Numbers are first and foremost the determining factor in this story. How much demand will there be globally? How many acres are going to be planted? How much good seed is available to be planted? What will the yields look... Read More
It looks as though the basics of supply and demand are at work in a dramatic way in the soybean market to the point where soybeans could return to the highs of 2008. China is leading the charge on the demand side both from the consumer and the livestock end with growth in global demand... Read More
Market turmoil has always been something that producers have had to deal with, but increasingly, one of the only characteristics of the markets you count on is the instability of the markets. As analyst John DePutter put it, " Volatility is a fact of life in the markets." Those ups and downs have become more... Read More
The continuing saga of the financial crisis in Europe and in particular Greece is leaving a lot of analysts on the edge of their seats. The latest development being the 170 billion dollar Greek bailout deal presented Tuesday. The failure of that deal could have far-reaching implications. But just how much could Europe's problems spill... Read More
Canola overall had a great year in 2011. Prices climbed to strong highs, demand was steady and acres were up in Western Canada. So where do we go from here? Does the price of canola continue to climb? Does profitability put us in a position where we are over stocked? Do other oils start to... Read More
Lentil acres in Western Canada are projected to be down this year by as much as 25%. This according to Brian Clancey of Stat Publishing comes as a result of poor prices and a poor quality crop of off-grade lentils last year. Farmers are being challenged in their commitment to lentils. The income potential of... Read More