Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — Statistics Canada will release its updated acreage estimates for the year on Tuesday, but the timing of the survey could lead to more questions and second-guessing than normal given the likely adjustments and yield losses over the past month. The survey was conducted before a drought took hold in Alberta and Saskatchewan, […] Read more

Questions abound ahead of StatsCan acreage report

Wheat, canola stocks surprisingly tight in StatsCan report
Reading Time: 3 minutes CNS Canada — Canada’s ag industry was surprised to see some tighter-than-anticipated supply estimates in Statistics Canada’s latest report on stocks of grain and oilseeds Wednesday morning. StatsCan said Canadian wheat supplies, as of March 31, totaled 16.74 million tonnes — about a million lower than expected, said Mike Jubinville of ProFarmer Canada. “On the […] Read more

Small canola acreage puts more emphasis on March 31 stocks
Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada –– The canola industry will pay closer attention than usual to the upcoming Statistics Canada report on stocks as of March 31, as a smaller canola acreage figure is causing worries about tight supplies going forward. StatsCan is scheduled to release its report on Wednesday. “Because of that tighter acreage, the stocks number […] Read more

Strong new-crop prices could entice more pea, lentil area
Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — Stronger prices for new-crop lentils and peas over the past few weeks could lead to an increase in Canadian acreage compared to the Statistics Canada estimates released last week. “You have to look at the timing of when the survey was done for the StatsCan report. Of course there’s a bit of […] Read more

Making the case in the neonic debate
Can agriculture afford to lose to the non-science of neonic opponents? The costs would be even higher than you probably think
Reading Time: 13 minutes Here in early 2015, it’s becoming a recognized pattern in agriculture: another day, another article, another proclamation and another call for action, all revolving around farmers’ use of neonicotinoid seed treatments and the alleged damage this does to bees and bee colonies. To say there is an abundance of information on this topic is one […] Read more

Big oats intentions surprise market
Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — A surprisingly large increase for oats acres in Statistics Canada’s planting intentions report on Thursday led to a quick drop in prices. However, actual area will likely come in below the early expectations, as declining prices should cause some acres to shift elsewhere. Oats plantings were pegged at 3.6 million acres by […] Read more

Canola down, wheat up in StatsCan’s first acreage estimates
Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada –– Canadian farmers intend to seed a bit more wheat and a bit less canola this spring compared to a year ago, according to the first survey estimates from Statistics Canada. However, adjustments are likely in subsequent reports, while weather over the growing season will become more important in determining actual production. “There’s […] Read more

ICE weekly outlook: Canola rangebound, watching acreage
Reading Time: < 1 minute CNS Canada — ICE Futures Canada canola contracts moved lower during the week ended Wednesday, but finished the week well off of their nearby lows as some support was uncovered to the downside. Barring a surprise in Statistics Canada’s planting intentions report, due out Thursday, canola futures are looking rangebound for the time being. Fund […] Read more

Opinions mixed ahead of StatsCan acreage report
Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada –– An early spring and relatively dry fields across much of Western Canada should allow farmers to increase total seeded acreage in 2015, but most analysts only expect minor adjustments on a crop-by-crop basis when Statistics Canada releases its planting intentions report. “StatsCan acreage numbers are always a bit unpredictable… but nobody is […] Read more

Feed barley likely topping out for now in Alta.
Reading Time: < 1 minute CNS Canada — Feed barley prices have shown some strength over the past month in Alberta, but are likely topping out for now as attention starts to turn to the new crop. Feed barley is now trading at about $217 per tonne for April/May delivery in the key Lethbridge, Alta. feeding area, according to feed […] Read more