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CBOT weekly outlook: Soybeans, corn enter holiday mode

MarketsFarm — Soybean and corn futures at the Chicago Board of Trade are expected to hold relatively rangebound over the next few weeks, although year-end positioning and thinner holiday volumes could lead to some volatility. General unwinding of spreads and fund profit-taking were weighing on prices in mid-December, Sean Lusk of Walsh Trading in Chicago […] Read more

Yara’s fertilizer terminal at Stockton, California. (Sebastian Braum photo, Yara.com)

Yara brings most European ammonia production back on stream

Rising fertilizer prices make resumption profitable

Oslo | Reuters — Yara has brought most of its European ammonia production back on line after prices of finished fertilizers rose to make up for a surge in the cost of gas, the Norwegian fertilizer manufacturer said on Wednesday. The company cut back ammonia production at a number of sites in Europe from September […] Read more


CBOT March 2022 wheat (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, orange and dark green lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: CBOT wheat nears two-month low

Corn declines; soy ends firm

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures fell nearly four per cent on Wednesday and European wheat fell three per cent as a bumper Australian harvest and signs of continued competition from Black Sea supplies added to technical pressure, traders and analysts said. Corn followed wheat lower while soybean futures ended modestly higher after monthly […] Read more

CME February 2022 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, purple and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle, hog futures down on meat export worries

China resuming some Brazilian beef imports

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures fell more than one per cent on Wednesday on technical selling, softer cash cattle markets this week and worries about export demand for U.S. beef, traders said. CME February live cattle fell 1.725 cents to settle at 136.575 cents/lb., just below the contract’s 50-day moving […] Read more


The McDonald’s “P.L.T.” sandwich in 2019. (CNW Group/McDonald’s Canada)

McDonald’s, Beyond Meat seen planning big U.S. McPlant expansion

New York | Reuters — McDonald’s Corp. is planning a major expansion of its plant-based burger with Beyond Meat Inc. in the United States in 2022, according to two Wall Street analysts. The companies began testing the “McPlant” patty in eight McDonald’s U.S. locations in November. Those restaurants have been selling enough of the sandwiches […] Read more

Claas’ current certified pre-owned inventory includes this 2020 Jaguar 990 self-propelled forage harvester, on offer in Nebraska for US$435,000 (about C$559,500). (ClaasUsedEquipment.com)

Claas retools certified pre-owned equipment program

'Claas Used' plan set up for Canada, U.S. markets

The North American arm of German aq equipment maker Claas has revamped the warranty and financing options it offers on sales of company-inspected pre-owned tractors, combines and forage harvesters. The new program, dubbed ‘Claas Used,’ will offer warranty protection on certified late-model units in Canada and the U.S., along with lower-rate financing through Claas Financial […] Read more


CME February 2022 live cattle (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures sag on weaker cash markets

CME lean hogs decline

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures ended modestly lower on Tuesday on profit-taking after a two-session advance, softer cash cattle prices and weaker wholesale beef prices, traders said. CME February live cattle settled down 0.55 cent at 138.3 cents/lb. but stayed inside of Monday’s trading range (all figures US$). For feeder […] Read more

CBOT January 2022 soybean meal (candlesticks) with January 2022 soybean oil (yellow O/H/L/C, left column). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybeans up as soymeal gains sharply against soyoil

CBOT corn up, wheat lower

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures rose about one per cent on Tuesday as soymeal futures soared on expectations of rising demand for the high-protein feed ingredient, analysts said. Chicago Board of Trade soymeal futures gained sharply against soyoil futures on meal/oil spreading, with soyoil falling to six-month lows on expectations that U.S. oil […] Read more


Producers can ask the Canadian Grain Commission to do a sample analysis when they disagree with an elevator — but currently they have to be present when the sample was taken and must launch the dispute process at that time. (CGC photo)

Farmers may get time to dispute grain grade, dockage

Canadian Grain Commission proposes extended time frame

Prairie farmers seeking more time to dispute a grain elevator’s call on their grain’s grade and dockage — whether they’re present at delivery or not — may soon get that time under a new proposal from the Canadian Grain Commission. The CGC on Monday opened up proposed regulatory amendments to an 11-week public consultation period […] Read more

Roquette’s pea processing plant near Portage la Prairie. (Photo courtesy Roquette Canada)

Pulse weekly outlook: New investments cause for optimism

Sector looking forward beyond challenges of 2021

MarketsFarm — Canada’s pulse industry had to endure more than its fair share of challenges and obstacles in 2021, domestic and abroad. Nevertheless, the national organization representing pulse growers, traders and processors feels the industry will be strong in the New Year. An already tight supply situation became tighter in 2021 as drought in Western […] Read more