A canola field near Pincher Creek, Alta. (Laughingmango/E+/Getty Images)

Japan increases demand for canola

MarketsFarm — Japan has continued to generate an increased demand for canola, according to Daisuke Sasatani, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) attaché in Tokyo. Sasatani said approximately 98 per cent of Japan’s canola imports are from Canada, while Australia supplies the remainder. The attaché estimated Japan’s canola imports in 2020-21 are to rise by […] Read more

CBOT May 2021 soybeans with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybean futures advance on supply concerns

Traders watch U.S. planting progress, crop weather

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures jumped on Monday on concerns about U.S. supplies dwindling due to strong export demand and smaller-than-expected plantings. The U.S. Department of Agriculture shocked traders last week by reporting that U.S. farmers plan to sow 87.6 million acres with soybeans this spring and 91.1 million acres […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

U.S. pork processors face higher costs, slower speeds after court ruling

Chicago | Reuters — An industry group representing America’s biggest meatpackers on Thursday pushed the U.S. Department of Agriculture to appeal a federal court decision that canceled an agency rule that allows pork plants to slaughter pigs more quickly. The decision issued Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Minnesota could raise costs for meatpackers like […] Read more

CME June 2021 lean hogs (candlesticks) with Bollinger (20,2) bands and CME lean hog index (black line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Lean hog futures notch contract highs

Chicago live cattle retreat

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures rose on Thursday, with several contract months including the benchmark June setting life-of-contract highs on firm cash markets and strong demand for pork, traders said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange June lean hogs settled up 1.025 cents at 106.325 cents/lb., after recording a contract high at 106.725 cents (all […] Read more


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

U.S. grains: CBOT May corn retreats after 7-1/2-year high

Deferred corn contracts climb; May soy, wheat also down

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. nearby corn futures declined on Thursday on profit-taking after the benchmark contract climbed to its highest since 2013, bolstered by a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report that projected smaller-than-expected plantings and rekindled worries over global grain supplies. Nearby soybean futures also fell on profit-taking, after a limit-up rally a […] Read more

ICE May 2021 canola (candlesticks) with Bollinger (20,2) bands, July 2021 canola (green line) and November 2021 canola (black line). (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: USDA reports could spur record canola acres

MarketsFarm — After May and July canola contracts took hefty hits over the past the week, they skyrocketed to close out the calendar month following a pair of reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The department on Wednesday issued its first survey-based prospective planting report for 2021, which called for increased acres for […] Read more



MGEX May 2021 wheat (candlesticks) with K.C. May 2021 wheat (orange line), CBOT May 2021 wheat (red line) and Canadian dollar in U.S. cents (green line). (Barchart)

Prairie cash wheat: Bids mixed as loonie jumps

MarketsFarm — Bids for Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) and Canada Western Amber Durum (CWAD) wheats dropped while those for Canada Prairie Spring Red (CPSR) wheat made their way upward during the week ending Wednesday. Wheat futures in the U.S. were mixed, while the Canadian dollar rose. The market reacted to both the prospective plantings […] Read more


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

CBOT weekly outlook: USDA acreage numbers provide bullish spark for corn, soy

MarketsFarm — Much-anticipated acreage estimates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, on Wednesday provided a bullish boost to Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) soybean and corn markets, with planting intentions for both crops coming in well below trade expectations. Corn futures were up by their 25 cents per bushel daily limit in reaction to USDA’s […] Read more