Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada –– The Baltic Dry Index, which tracks global bulk shipping rates, has fallen to its lowest levels in 30 years, which should make North American grains and oilseeds more competitive in the international market. The index (BDI) was quoted Monday at 554 points, the lowest reading since records start in 1985. The index […] Read more
Bulk shipping cost index sinks to 30-year lows
Nearby lows likely in for wheat futures
Reading Time: < 1 minute CNS Canada — All three U.S. wheat futures markets have seen a sizeable corrective bounce after hitting their lowest levels in months to start the week — and could be due for some more strength heading into the spring, a U.S. analyst says. “I’d like to think that the lows are in for the short […] Read more
ICE weekly outlook: Canola ‘reasonably balanced’
Reading Time: < 1 minute CNS Canada –– ICE Futures Canada canola contracts moved higher during the week ended Wednesday, but remain rangebound overall with offsetting market factors expected to keep values steady in the short term. “The market seems, at least temporarily, reasonably balanced,” said Jon Driedger of FarmLink Marketing Solutions. “It’s that window of the year where there’s […] Read more
Prairie CWRS bids weaken slightly
Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — Average cash bids for Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat generally moved lower during the week ended Friday. Average CWRS prices lost about C$1-$4 per tonne, with prices ranging from about $197 per tonne in north-central Saskatchewan to $216 per tonne in Manitoba, according to bids from a cross-section of delivery points […] Read more
Wheat basis muddied in Western Canada
Reading Time: 3 minutes CNS Canada — The difference between futures markets and cash markets for any exchange-traded commodities can usually be brought into focus by the basis — that is, except in Prairie wheat, where that focus has now gone fuzzy. Typically, a wide or narrow basis provides some indication of how representative the futures market is of […] Read more
All crops not equal in face of weakening dollar
Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada –– With the Canadian dollar falling to its weakest levels relative to its U.S. counterpart in six years, the general sentiment holds it should be good news for exporters, such as Canadian grain farmers. However, any net benefit may depend on what exactly is being exported and who is doing the buying, according […] Read more
Prairie crop acres forecast to rise across the board
Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada –– Just about every major crop grown in the Canadian Prairies is forecast to come out a winner in the annual fight for acres this year, with unseeded area the only place where reductions are forecast, according to early estimates. “Most crops are likely to increase this year, just because we’ll get the […] Read more
Prairie CWRS bids improve slightly despite weaker futures
Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — Average cash bids for Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat generally moved higher during the week ended Friday, despite continued weakness in U.S. futures, as basis levels improved in many areas. Average CWRS prices were steady to up by as much as $4 per tonne, with the highest average bids in Manitoba, […] Read more
Mild weather poses risks for Prairie winter wheat
Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — Milder-than-normal temperatures across Western Canada over the past week could raise some issues for its winter wheat crops, though snow cover and conditions through the rest of the winter will also be important. “It’s not ideal conditions for winter wheat, and I’d anticipate that we’d see some damage,” said CWB analyst Bruce […] Read more
Seasonal pressures to weigh on CBOT soybeans, corn
Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — Soybean futures at the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) moved lower during the week ended Wednesday and could be due for more losses, given the seasonal trends and looming South American crops. “As long as South America has no real weather problems… it will be hanging over the soybean market,” said Scott […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
