MarketsFarm — ICE Futures canola contracts climbed to their strongest levels in two years during the week ended Wednesday, but could be nearing their highs for the time being as harvest pressure should start weighing on values.
“We’re running into the top end on the monthly and weekly charts,” said Jamie Wilton, senior commodity futures specialist with RJ O’Brien in Winnipeg.
The November contract settled Wednesday at $530.20 per tonne, while some of the more deferred positions topped $540.
Looking at the charts, Wilton said the $530 per tonne level has been a “tough level of resistance” for a number of years.
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As the harvest in southern Alberta presses on, a broker said that is one of the factors pulling feed prices lower in the region. Darcy Haley, vice-president of Ag Value Brokers in Lethbridge, added that lower cattle numbers in feedlots, plentiful amounts of grass for cattle to graze and a lacklustre export market also weighed on feed prices.
With harvest operations picking up over the next few weeks, “I think there will be enough supply around, which should put a halt on the uptrend at some point,” he said.
However, he added, solid demand on the other side will remain supportive and temper any correction lower.
In addition to harvest conditions in both Canada and the U.S., Wilton said South American weather may also provide some direction for futures, with Brazil on the dry side as its soybean growing season gets underway.
— Phil Franz-Warkentin reports for MarketsFarm from Winnipeg.
