Forecaster Drew Lerner, shown here at Ag Days 2020 in Brandon, sees a cooler-than-normal spring ahead for the Prairies. (Manitoba Co-operator photo by Alexis Stockford)

Variable Prairie weather makes for uncertain spring ahead

If nothing else, a rainy harvest season helped replenish topsoil moisture

Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Late-season rains wreaked havoc on the 2019 harvest season but were helpful in restoring topsoil moisture to key growing regions in the Prairies. Since snow coverage has been variable across the Prairies so far in 2020, however, the growing season may get off to a rocky start. “If we take a look at […] Read more



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CBOT weekly outlook: Trading cautious on Phase One pact

Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Though China and the United States signed their Phase One trade deal on Wednesday, commodity markets remained “extremely cautious,” according to one analyst. Prices were muted at midday following a signing ceremony at the White House, due to the lack of public details regarding the deal. The market is “preparing for disappointment,” according […] Read more

ICE March 2020 canola with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: Canola stronger at midweek

Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Canola was “well supported” at midweek, bolstered by strength in comparable vegetable oils and relative weakness in the Canadian dollar. Chicago soy was underpinned by strong export demand and the expectation that the U.S. and China will sign Phase One of their trade deal next week. However, with heightened geopolitical tension in the […] Read more



Pinto beans. (Vergani_Fotografia/iStock/Getty Images)

Pulse weekly outlook: Edible bean yields lower across North America

Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — A challenging harvest season spelled trouble for dry bean yields across North America, according to one report from the Global Pulse Confederation. Mexico’s spring-summer bean crop yield was pegged at around 400,000 tonnes, which was 52 per cent lower than the previous year. The loss in production was largely due to drought conditions […] Read more


The Chicago Board of Trade building on May 28, 2018. (Harmantasdc/iStock Editorial/Getty Images)

CBOT weekly outlook: Trade bullish into New Year

Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Agriculture commodities on the Chicago Board of Trade were mixed on Friday, the last day of the January contract and one of the last trading days of 2019. Traders were “shoring up positions ahead of the weekend,” with profit-taking a feature, said Terry Reilly of Futures International in Chicago. Soybeans were lower after […] Read more



ICE March 2020 canola with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: Canola gives back gains at midweek

Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Canola was bolstered by strong trade activity and profit-taking at midweek, though values remained rangebound. As of Wednesday, 144,500 canola contracts had traded hands, with the most activity concentrated in the January/March contracts. Spreading accounted for 124,790 contracts traded, which is about 86 per cent of the activity. Keith Ferley of RBC Dominion […] Read more

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Variable yields supportive for mustard prices

Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Statistics Canada’s principal field crop production report last week estimated a significant drop in Canada’s 2019 mustard production. In September, the agency estimated Canadian mustard would total about 141,000 tonnes. However, due to challenging growing conditions and a slight reduction in acreage, the StatsCan estimates released Friday were revised downward to 134,600 tonnes. […] Read more