
CBOT weekly outlook: U.S. supply and demand report stands pat
MarketsFarm — Expected changes to ending stocks for soybeans, corn and wheat did not occur in the latest supply and demand report Tuesday from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Rather, the department held onto its February projections. “I’m disappointed [the USDA] didn’t adjust anything. I’m not saying they didn’t do their homework. I’m just […] Read more

U.S. grains: Wheat and soy climb, corn sags after USDA data
U.S. dollar's retreat also supportive
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures rose more than one per cent on Tuesday after the U.S. Department of Agriculture in a monthly report lowered its forecast of global wheat inventories, analysts said. Corn futures declined on a surprise increase in USDA’s forecast of world corn stocks, while soybean futures firmed after a choppy […] Read more

Klassen: Deferred live cattle futures pull feeder market higher
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $5 lower to $3 higher while calves under 600 lbs. were $2 to as much as $7 higher. Yearlings were somewhat sluggish in the eastern Prairie regions, as feedlot operators in Alberta focused on local cattle. Fleshier backgrounded cattle are coming on the market at this […] Read more

Railways to blame for terminal shortages, WGEA says
Grain handlers take issue with MarketsFarm report
MarketsFarm — The association representing the Prairies’ main grain handling companies says recent delays in loading vessels have less to do with the availability of grain and more to do with the railways hauling it to port. The Western Grain Elevator Association (WGEA), which represents major handlers such as Viterra, Richardson, Cargill and others, raised […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cattle, hogs firm as U.S. stimulus plan fuels optimism
Relief bill expected to lift meat demand
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) live cattle futures firmed on Monday, recovering from a seven-week low hit last week, on optimism that the US$1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill will spur the U.S. economy and bolster demand for meat, traders said. CME April live cattle futures settled up 0.325 cent at 119.35 cents/lb., […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans near seven-year peak
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures hit their highest in almost seven years on Monday as forecasts for dry weather in Argentina and excessive rains in Brazil stoked supply concerns. Wheat futures declined, pressured by forecasts for beneficial rains in the U.S. Plains winter wheat belt late this week. Corn futures ended mostly higher […] Read more

Canada weighs tighter rules for grow-your-own pot producers
Spending on illicit pot still ahead of legal purchases
Reuters — Canada on Monday launched a public consultation seeking to tighten rules for individuals who are allowed to grow their own medical cannabis, in an effort to clamp down on pot seeping into black markets. In a draft guidance issued for the consultation, Health Canada highlighted recent police raids and arrests at production sites […] Read more

Alberta hog farmers to get set-aside via AgriRecovery
Producers get funds for feeding held-back market hogs
An AgriRecovery plan announced Friday is set to pay eligible Alberta farmers 95 cents per day per market-ready hog toward the animals’ upkeep during the shutdown of the province’s biggest hog slaughter plant. Olymel, the meat packing arm of Sollio Co-operative, reopened its plant at Red Deer this week after announcing Feb. 15 it would […] Read more

No credit expected for farmers’ past work in new carbon market
Work on protocols for specific projects to begin this spring, department says
Draft regulations for Canada’s new carbon market show Canadian farmers won’t receive credit for removing any greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from the atmosphere prior to 2017. Federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson on Friday announced the offset market, to be known as the Federal Greenhouse Gas Offset System. A 60-day public consultation period on draft regulations […] Read more

Spring road bans coming into effect across Prairies
MarketsFarm — Warming temperatures and melting snow across Western Canada may cause some disruptions to grain and livestock movement over the next few weeks as seasonal spring road restrictions come into effect across the Prairies. The annual spring road restrictions set axle weight limits for vehicles moving on certain roads in an effort to reduce […] Read more