Reading Time: 3 minutes CNS Canada — After predictions of record canola area and a drop in pulse acres, traders and analysts are doubtful of Statistics Canada’s predictions for smaller canola acres, much larger wheat acres and only minor reductions in pulse acres. “It’s unusual for everybody to just be this out of whack on this report,” said Ken […] Read more

Grain trade skeptical of StatsCan’s acreage outlook

Prairie winter wheat conditions uncertain
Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — While it’s too early to assess how the western Canada winter wheat crop fared this winter, there is some uncertainty due to unseasonably cold April temperatures. “We start losing cold tolerance, especially in March and going into April now. And that’s when you need to monitor temperatures or for (the crop) to […] Read more

U.S. corn, soy acreage to expand in 2018-19, USDA says
Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — U.S. farmers are likely to expand plantings of both corn and soybeans while reducing wheat seedings for the upcoming marketing year, the U.S. Agriculture Department said on Tuesday. The USDA’s Office of the Chief Economist forecast that farmers will seed 91 million acres of corn in the 2018-19 crop year, up […] Read more

Trade looks to potential, not projections, post-StatsCan data
Reading Time: 3 minutes CNS Canada — The commodity trade has turned its focus forward following fresh data from Statistics Canada. “The acreage numbers are important, but this game right now is all about weather,” said Mike Jubinville of ProFarmer Canada, naming spring wheat as one crop the market had been closely watching. While estimates for all wheat seeded […] Read more

StatsCan wheat acres watched closely
Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — Persistent concerns over the state of the U.S. spring wheat crop should place more attention than normal on Canada’s wheat area when Statistics Canada releases updated acreage estimates on Thursday. Ahead of the report, trade estimates for all-wheat area range from 21.5 million to 23.2 million acres, which would compare with the […] Read more

Weather may put wrench in record-low summerfallow intentions
Reading Time: < 1 minute CNS Canada –– The amount of land left to summerfallow in Western Canada could hit a new record low in 2017, according to the latest Statistics Canada data, as the practice falls more and more out of favour. However, weather conditions still have the final say, with ‘unintended’ summerfallow a distinct possibility in 2017. Heading […] Read more

Food production in Syria reported at all-time low
Reading Time: 2 minutes Geneva | Reuters — Food production has dropped to an all-time low in Syria where millions of hungry civilians are struggling through their sixth winter in a war zone, United Nations agencies said Tuesday. Many farmers have had to abandon their land, unable to afford the soaring cost of seeds, fertilizers and tractor fuel, the […] Read more

U.S. farmers surprisingly boost corn plantings, soy acres at record
Reading Time: 2 minutes Washington | Reuters — U.S. farmers seeded more corn and soybeans than they had initially planned to during the spring, taking advantage of a rallying futures market and good weather to plant as much acreage as possible, government data showed on Thursday. The robust plantings will likely add to an ample supply base of both […] Read more

Canada’s canola, pulse acres rise at grains’ expense
Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — Canadian farmers adjusted their acreage ideas to seed more canola and pulses at the expense of grains, according to the updated Statistics Canada field crop area report released June 29. The adjustments were largely in line with trade guesses — and attention in the markets is quickly turning back to weather conditions. […] Read more

More canola and pulses, less wheat expected in Canada
Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — Canadian farmers likely seeded more canola and pulse acres than originally thought this spring, but less wheat, according to average trade estimates ahead of Statistics Canada’s next official survey results due out June 29. Poor returns per acre and frustrations over grading issues had some farmers backing away on wheat, said Jerry […] Read more