Burnett on Markets: Global grain stocks offer false sense of food security

Burnett on Markets: Global grain stocks offer false sense of food security

In event of production shortfall, 60 per cent of available stocks would never be available to market

Reading Time: 2 minutes The economic parallels from the COVID-19 epidemic are quickly changing from comparisons to the recent financial crisis in 2008-09 to the Great Depression. My parents and grandparents lived through the Depression and it did have many impacts on their everyday lives. The main symbol of the Depression-era mentality was the two enormous chest freezers in […] Read more

CBOT May 2020 wheat with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Chicago wheat stabilizes

Corn steady after lows; soybeans continue to slip

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago wheat futures rose on Friday, as traders wrestled with conflicting signals — from concerns over export demand of U.S. crops to the potential of weather risks. Corn futures edged higher on bargain shopping, consolidating above a 3-1/2 year low this week, while soybeans fell slightly, traders said. The modest gains […] Read more


(File photo by Dave Bedard)

Funds add to net short position in canola

Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Fund traders put more new bearish bets on canola in the second week of April, adding to their net short position, according to the latest commitment of traders (CoT) report from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The net managed money short position in ICE Futures canola came in Tuesday at 38,129 […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Prices steady, demand quiet

Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Demand for feed grains has slowed down on the Prairies due to uncertainty in cattle markets posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many cattle processing and packing plants across North America have closed or slowed production due to lack of staff, leading to widespread issues in feed grain supply chains. “The lack of forward […] Read more


CBOT May 2020 wheat with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat slumps after Egypt again passes on U.S. product

Soybeans slip on low exports, livestock feed worries

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures retreated on Thursday as worries over favourable weather dissipated and demand concerns resurfaced after top importer Egypt passed on U.S. wheat in a purchasing tender for a second straight day. Soybean futures sagged on weaker-than-expected export sales and worries of diminished livestock feed demand, while corn firmed after […] Read more

CBOT May 2020 corn with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn futures set 3-1/2 year low as ethanol output tumbles

Soy futures consolidate after 3-1/2 week low

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures dropped to their lowest level in about 3-1/2 years on Wednesday as weekly ethanol output set a record low, reflecting weak demand for the crop during the coronavirus outbreak. Soybean and wheat futures also fell at the Chicago Board of Trade. Demand for corn-based ethanol has suffered as […] Read more



(Dave Bedard photo)

Funds still net-short on canola

Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Fund traders were on both sides of the canola market during the first week of April, reducing their net short position slightly, according to the latest commitment of traders (CoT) report from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The net managed money short position in ICE Futures canola came in April 7 […] Read more


CBOT May 2020 soybeans with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybeans fall further on coronavirus demand risks

Wheat slides as U.S. crop ratings hold steady

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybean futures slid lower on Tuesday as fears of demand destruction for livestock feed due the closure of several U.S. meat packing plants hung over the market. Corn also inched lower, hovering near a 3-1/2-year low as it tracked crude oil markets. More than a third of the U.S. crop […] Read more

(File photo by Greg Berg)

U.S. grains: Soybeans drop as livestock markets drag soymeal lower

Wheat eases on global supply; corn unfazed by crude oil deal

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybean futures fell more than one per cent on Monday in the market’s steepest drop in 1-1/2 weeks, as livestock processing plant closures that impact feed supply weighed on soymeal prices. Corn also sagged despite optimistic news that OPEC might curb oil production, after a deal was signed over the […] Read more