
U.S. grains: Wheat, corn, soybean futures fall
U.S. export sales data in focus
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures dropped on Thursday, with rains in the U.S. Plains easing some concerns about crop health in that key growing area, traders said. Corn and soybean futures also were weaker, pressured by lacklustre export data and expectations that overseas buyers will soon shift their orders to Brazil and Argentina […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures mixed, remain near highest since 2015
Chicago lean hogs end lower
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. cattle futures were narrowly mixed on Thursday, consolidating around the near eight-year high hit earlier in the week. Limited supplies in the cash market underpinned futures prices. “The packers will have to bid up to get these animals,” said Dan Smith, senior risk manager at Top Third Ag Marketing. “The […] Read more

Alberta plans new ag processing tax credit
Incentive to be introduced in 2023 budget
Alberta has telegraphed plans for a new provincial tax credit in its upcoming budget to spur development in the ag processing sector. The province on Tuesday announced plans for what it calls the Alberta Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit — a 12 per cent, “non-refundable” tax credit for corporations making capital investments in “value-added agri-processing” in […] Read more

Saputo to consolidate U.S. cheesemaking, shut three plants
Plans include one new plant, one repurposed
The Canadian company ranked among the three biggest cheesemakers in the U.S. is preparing to consolidate five of its cheese plants in that country down to two. Montreal-based Saputo announced last Thursday it has construction underway on a new $240 million cut-and-wrap cheese plant in the Milwaukee suburb of Franklin, to be up and running […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures firm, tight supplies underpin
Hogs up off 13-month lows
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures firmed on Wednesday, supported by tightening cattle supplies and strong cash trade that continue to push front-month futures to near eight-year highs. “The cash price outlook right now is very firm,” said Doug Houghton, technical analyst at Brock Capital Management. “The overall supply outlook is for […] Read more

CBOT weekly outlook: Latest USDA adjustments do little to move market
Selling pressure short-lived after report
MarketsFarm — Updated supply/demand estimates (WASDE) from the U.S. Department of Agriculture were neutral to slightly bearish for soybeans, corn and wheat, with latest numbers largely coming in line with expectations. The February report is traditionally not a major market mover, with the Chicago futures markets waiting for confirmation on South American crops and for […] Read more

ICE weekly outlook: March canola unchanged from last week
Loonie's relative strength seen as drag on values
MarketsFarm — The ICE Futures canola market was once again trading rangebound for the week ended Wednesday, as the March contract was left unchanged from one week earlier at $828.20. The contract oscillated between a range of $819.40 and $837 per tonne during the week, all the while seemingly immune from larger price ranges seen […] Read more

U.S. grains: Chicago wheat, corn, soy firm on WASDE report
South America's weather drags on competing exports
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago wheat, corn and soybean futures firmed on Wednesday, supported by weather conditions in South America that hamper rival exports, though higher-than-expected U.S. supplies limited gains. The most-active wheat contract on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) added 15 cents to $7.64-3/4 a bushel (all figures US$). CBOT soybeans added 4-1/2 […] Read more

Pulse weekly outlook: Chickpea stocks down; lentils, dry peas up
Chickpea prices unchanged before report
MarketsFarm — Statistics Canada on Tuesday tallied up increases in commercial and on-farm stocks of both lentils and dry peas, in its report on grain stocks as of Dec. 31, 2022. Unlike those two pulses, however, StatCan reported total stocks of chickpeas decreased, at 185,000 tonnes in December 2022 compared to 311,000 in December 2021. […] Read more

Grain stocks come in as projected
StatCan report deemed neutral for canola and spring wheat, supportive for durum
MarketsFarm — Stocks of Canadian grains at year-end appear to be pretty much in line with market expectations. Statistics Canada on Tuesday issued its report on stocks as of Dec. 31, 2022, which highlighted notable increases in most grains, further signaling a recovery from the 2021 drought. “Stocks reports are important because they confirm the […] Read more