(Dave Bedard photo)

Cost index up for CN, down for CP in grain revenue formula

CP expects lower labour costs, CN higher

Expected labour costs were the major difference in a new ruling on the index that determines how much revenue each of Canada’s big two railways get to keep in the coming crop year from hauling Prairie grain. The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) on Thursday announced its decisions on the volume-related composite price index (VRCPI) for […] Read more

Barley south of Ethelton, Sask. on July 30, 2019. (Dave Bedard photo)

Feed weekly outlook: Solid exports support domestic barley market

MarketsFarm — Canada has already exported more barley through the first two-thirds of the 2020-21 marketing year than in any full crop year in over a decade. That solid export pace is keeping domestic prices well supported, with an increase in seeded area in 2021-22 expected. Export data from the Canadian Grain Commission through March […] Read more


CBOT July 2021 corn (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, orange, green lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn mixed on continued liquidation, tight supply

Soybeans slide on profit-taking; wheat up as U.S. dryness expands

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures ended mixed on Thursday as traders took profits following a strong run-up in the market, while global supply concerns offered support. Soybeans slipped as soyoil stepped back from recent highs, while wheat ticked higher as dryness expands across the U.S. Great Plains. The most-active corn futures on the […] Read more

CME June 2021 live cattle with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Live cattle gain on grain market uncertainty

Lean hogs down with cash market

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures gained on Thursday, as mixed grain trade offered some relief for feed costs, while strong beef demand continued to support prices, traders said. CME’s June live cattle futures added 0.6 cent to 116.05 cents/lb., while August feeder cattle futures gained 0.975 cents to close at 149.875 cents/lb. […] Read more


(IMNATURE/iStock/Getty Images)

Ontario’s RMP rolling out ‘later than usual’

Details pending, Agricorp says

Ontario farmers’ coverage under the provincial Risk Management Program (RMP) won’t be affected by ‘a bit later’ rollout this spring, the program’s handlers say. Agricorp, the province’s farm program delivery agency, reiterated in a statement Tuesday that the RMP “will be available in 2021 (and) program details will be shared with customers as soon as […] Read more

CME June 2021 lean hogs with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog futures gain as supply outlook wanes

Live cattle ease on higher grain prices

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures climbed on Wednesday, supported by tight supplies and low inventory of available young hogs for producers as summer demand ramps up, traders said. CME most-active June lean hogs added 2.45 cents, to 109.125 cents/lb., with all contract months but June notching life-of-contract highs (all figures US$). “Tighter […] Read more


ICE November 2021 canola (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (light yellow, dark yellow, dark green lines). (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: Challenging crop year ahead for canola

MarketsFarm — With declines in canola following Statistics Canada’s bullish-leaning projections for acres, it’s becoming more difficult to determine which way prices will trend in coming weeks and months. “Where are prices going to go? In any given year that’s challenging, especially in this year,” said David Derwin, analyst for PI Financial in Winnipeg. “That […] Read more

CBOT May 2021 soybeans (candlesticks) with 20- and 50-day moving averages (yellow, light green lines) and May 2021 soyoil (dark green line). (Barchart)

CBOT weekly outlook: May corn, soybeans reach eight-year highs

Prices seen as indicating crop scarcity

MarketsFarm — At the Chicago Board of Trade, old-crop contracts for corn and soybeans were trading at continually rising prices over the past week and one analyst believes there is a short squeeze. The May corn contract went from about $6.50 per bushel on April 22 to $7.20/bu. five days later (all figures US$). Over […] Read more


CBOT July 2021 corn with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn, wheat, soybeans ease on profit-taking

Focus on weather as corn, soy stocks ebb

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago corn, wheat and soybean futures eased on Wednesday on profit-taking after climbing in earlier trading as traders assessed weather risks to crops in Brazil and the U.S. The most-active corn contract on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) lost 10-1/2 cents to $6.44 per bushel, while the nearby May contract […] Read more

File photo of a green soybean crop south of Winnipeg. (Dougall_Photography/iStock/Getty Images)

Canada’s soybean, corn acres projected to rise

StatsCan's estimates see Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba planting more

Statistics Canada’s first read of farmers’ intentions for the 2021 growing season shows more Canadian acres going into both soybeans and corn. Farmers nationwide anticipate planting 5.3 million acres to soy in 2021, up 5.5 per cent from 2020, StatsCan said in its field crop survey released Tuesday. “An increase in anticipated (soy) area is […] Read more