The Western Grains Research Foundation has a new chair. Laura Reiter, a farmer from Radisson, Sask., northwest of Saskatoon, was elected to the post following the first meeting of the new board following the organization’s 2023 annual general meeting. Reiter is a producer and trained agrologist who has spent time working in research and in […] Read more
Former Sask Wheat chair to lead WGRF board
Kevin Auch remains foundation's vice-chair
Australia reaches deal with China in barley dispute
Trade shift may be 'bad news' for Canada and other exporters
Sydney/Beijing | Reuters — Australia has reached an agreement with China to resolve their dispute over barley imports, the two countries said on Tuesday, a latest sign of improving ties between the major commodity trade partners. Relations between the two had been strained for years, and worsened after Australia called for an inquiry into the […] Read more
Louis Dreyfus expanding Yorkton canola crush plant
New expansion would more than double plant's capacity
Louis Dreyfus’ Yorkton, Sask. canola crushing plant is about to undergo another major expansion. The project, announced Tuesday, is expected to add an additional canola crushing line and more than double the plant’s annual capacity to over two million tonnes upon completion. Construction is due to begin later this year. The crush plant, built in […] Read more
Klassen: Demand surges for grass cattle
Barley, corn expected to be cheaper next fall
Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $3-$4 on either side of unchanged. Certain auction markets did not have sales due to the shortened holiday week. Adverse weather also shuttered some sales on Wednesday and Thursday in the eastern Prairie region. Southern Alberta feedlots are contending with poor pen conditions which may […] Read more
Canola fund short position shrinking
Managed money is net long on corn, soy
MarketsFarm — Managed money fund traders continued to cover their large short positions in canola in early April, according to the latest Commitments of Traders report from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). As of April 4, the net managed money short position in canola futures came in at 49,470 contracts (70,671 short; 21,201 […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat closes higher on dry weather, Russian threats
Markets await monthly supply and demand report from USDA
Mexico City | Reuters — Chicago wheat futures were higher on Monday, as dry weather put Kansas City wheat at risk and Russia’s threat to bypass a UN-brokered grain deal underpinned prices, traders said. Corn also closed higher, though soybeans dipped as warm and dry weather improved the planting outlook in the United States, analysts […] Read more
Bidding open for Merit Foods for two more weeks
Stakeholder Burcon plans to put up 'compelling bid'
The fate of Winnipeg pea- and canola-based protein processor Merit Functional Foods won’t be confirmed until the end of April at the earliest. Merit, whose major shareholders include Vancouver plant-based protein firm Burcon NutraScience, U.S. agrifood firm Bunge and former executives of Hemp Oil Canada, was placed into receivership March 1. According to the first […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Sizzling cash cattle prices ignite rally in CME futures
April hogs up, June down
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures leapt to contract highs on Thursday as cash prices soared, stoking concerns about tightening U.S. supplies. Meatpackers had to be aggressive in the cash market, brokers said, after ranchers have reduced their herds due to high feed costs and drought in the western U.S. Cattle […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Barley prices still historically high, but face headwinds
Bulk corn delivery remains more convenient
MarketsFarm — Feed barley bids in Western Canada remain historically strong, despite easing off their highs over the past month and trending lower. With bids of around $410 per tonne into the Lethbridge feedlot alley, feed barley “is still a sell,” according to Mike Jubinville of MarketsFarm, speaking on a webinar. However, he noted there […] Read more
U.S. grains: Crop futures slide on disappointing export sales, improved weather
Traders adjust positions before Easter weekend
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade grain and soybean futures crumbled on Thursday on disappointing U.S. export sales and an improved weather outlook for U.S. spring plantings, analysts said. U.S. soybean export sales for 2022-23 were 155,300 tonnes for the week ended March 30, down 42 per cent from the prior four-week average, […] Read more
Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field
