CBOT May 2021 wheat with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat hits three-month low on supply prospects

CBOT soybeans, corn also decline

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures fell to their lowest level of 2021 on Thursday, pressured by improving global production prospects and a firmer dollar, which tends to make U.S. grains less competitive globally, analysts said. Corn and soybean futures also eased, following broad declines in commodities along with position-squaring ahead of key U.S. […] Read more

(Shironosov/iStock/Getty Images)

Ag ministers withdraw AgriStability reference margin limit

Program's compensation rate unchanged but 'remains on table'

In a move expected to provide $95 million in additional farm support per year, Canada’s ag ministers have agreed to remove the reference margin limit from the AgriStability farm income stabilization program. “That’s it! The ‘reference margin limit’ of the #AgriStability program is over! And it will be retroactive to 2020!” federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

USDA plans more pandemic programs for disadvantaged farmers

Review found disparities in farm aid distribution

Chicago | Reuters — The U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Wednesday it will dedicate at least US$6 billion to help smaller-scale and socially disadvantaged farmers who were hurt by the pandemic, along with producers of organic food and other specialty crops. The agency said it would also increase by approximately $5.6 billion payments made […] Read more

ICE May 2021 canola with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: Canola still finding support

U.S. acreage estimates could sway futures

MarketsFarm — The ICE Futures canola market saw some wide price swings over the week ended Wednesday, dropping by more than $50 per tonne off its contract highs in the nearby May contract before recovering to trade just a few dollars off of those levels once again. Tight canola supplies, strength in world vegetable oil […] Read more



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

U.S. grains: Soybeans extend gains on veg oil rally

Corn rangebound, weather weighs on wheat

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybean futures gained for a fourth straight session on Wednesday supported by tightness in vegetable oil markets as traders anticipate U.S. planting data next week. Nearby corn futures rose, while deferred contracts representing the 2021 crop softened ahead of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s March 31 planting intentions and quarterly […] Read more


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

U.S. livestock: Lean hog futures climb as processing slows

Live cattle steady as beef prices level off

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures continued higher on Wednesday, reaching a 6-1/2 year high as optimism for consumer demand increases against tighter hog supplies. CME April lean hogs closed 1.3 cents higher at 97.775 cents/lb., after notching a life-of-contract high at 97.925 cents, while the most-active June contract added 0.8 […] Read more

Thanks to Jim Lundgren, who farms at Glenora, Man., about 85 km west of Morden, for this photo of his early start to spring tillage on March 20, 2021, owing to the recent absence of snow and/or rain in the area. Not that it’s a race, but is spring fieldwork already underway where you are? If yes, feel free to snap a photo and email us at daveb@fbcpublishing.com. (Photo courtesy Jim Lundgren)

Manitoba soil temperatures allow for spring fertilizer

Winter ban lifted, with cautions

Farmers across Manitoba are now cleared to apply spring fertilizers including livestock manure on their fields, thanks to sufficiently warm soil temperatures, the province said Tuesday. Though the winter nutrient ban has been lifted, the province cautioned producers to “assess current weather conditions and periodically check weather forecasts” if they’re applying anytime between now and […] Read more


(JBSs.infoinvest.com.br)

JBS pledges net zero greenhouse emissions by 2040

Sao Paulo | Reuters — JBS SA, the world’s largest meatpacker, has committed to zeroing the balance of its global greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, the company said on Tuesday, amid criticism of its role in a Brazilian beef industry driving rainforest destruction. “We know it is very difficult to achieve this,” CEO Gilberto Tomazoni […] Read more

CME May 2021 feeder cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

Klassen: Feeder market remains volatile

Feed grain values remain firm

Last week, western Canadian yearling markets were traded $2-$4 above week-ago levels from Monday through Wednesday; however, buyers backed away from the market on Thursday and Friday as feeder cattle futures fell nearly $7 from Wednesday’s high. By the end of the week, yearlings were relatively unchanged from week-ago levels. Calf prices were relatively flat […] Read more