Reading Time: 2 minutes Farmers looking to book fertilizer ahead of next spring can expect to see some softening of prices over the winter months, before seasonal demand picks up and costs rise again, according to a fertilizer market analyst. For nitrogen it will depend on the product, with ammonia likely to see the highest prices in relation to […] Read more
Softer fertilizer prices seen likely over winter
Sluggish lentil market drifting down
Reading Time: < 1 minute The lentil market in Western Canada remains lacklustre at best, as demand is very slow and farmers have little incentive to sell at current prices. "Bids and offers are just too far apart," said Bobby Leavins, of RayGlen Commodities in Saskatoon, on the current state of the lentil market. Lentil exports were large in the […] Read more
DDGS cheaper but still too pricey for Canadian feed
Reading Time: 2 minutes Prices for dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) have come down significantly over the past few weeks, but the cost of bringing the product into Canadian feed rations is still too high compared to domestic options, according to a feed grains broker. "Prices are dropping, but they haven’t dropped significantly enough to attract Canadian buyers," […] Read more
Grains, oilseeds seen pulled toward ‘fiscal cliff’
Reading Time: 2 minutes The economic uncertainty circulating global financial markets, as the United States nears a so-called "fiscal cliff," is seen bearing potential to weigh on agricultural commodity markets as well. However, analysts add, the extent of such fallout on grains and oilseeds remains to be seen. A combination of tax increases and spending cuts that would effectively […] Read more
Prairie durum market grows quiet
Reading Time: 2 minutes The durum market in Western Canada is quiet for the time being, with buyers and sellers both backing away after seeing steady movement earlier in the fall. "We’ve been busy buying up until this point, and now things have quieted down," said Warren Mareschal, sales manager with South West Terminal near Gull Lake, Sask. End-use […] Read more
Canola fundamentals still supportive
Reading Time: 2 minutes ICE Futures Canada canola contracts moved lower during the week ending Wednesday, dropping sharply for two consecutive sessions before uncovering some support to the downside. While further technical declines are possible in the short-term, the fundamentals remain supportive overall, according to an analyst. If actual Canadian canola production in 2012 finished near the relatively tight […] Read more
Barley bids reaching plateau in Western Canada
Reading Time: < 1 minute Barley prices in the key Lethbridge, Alberta cattle-feeding area have risen steadily over the past two months, but may be nearing their highs for the time being as other commodities are starting to displace barley in rations. Barley is currently trading in the $275 to $285 per tonne level in the Lethbridge area, which compares […] Read more
Will the U.S. election matter for Canada’s farmers?
Reading Time: 3 minutes Western Canada’s farmers may not get a vote in the upcoming U.S. election, but policy south of the border can have a major effect on the agricultural markets across North America. U.S. agricultural policy “is extremely important… and has always had drastic effects on us,” said Terry Boehm, president of the National Farmers Union in […] Read more
Canola stuck in range
Reading Time: < 1 minute ICE Futures Canada canola contracts have seen some wide price swings over the past week, but are relatively unchanged from where they were only five trading days earlier, with small losses in the two front months and a firmer tone in the more deferred positions. Choppy, range-bound activity is expected to persist in the canola […] Read more
Mustard has room to the upside
Reading Time: < 1 minute A smaller-than-expected mustard crop in Western Canada this year should keep values well supported going forward, especially as end-users look to secure supplies through the spot market, according to an industry official. Yellow mustard and brown mustard bids have some room to the upside, as a number of end-users are starting to be short of […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
