MarketsFarm — High demand and an accompanying increase in overseas exports have resulted in reduced domestic supply for Canadian flaxseed, helping drive prices for the crop to highs unseen in years. Marlene Boersch, owner of Mercantile Consulting Venture in Winnipeg, said the amount of flax from Canada going to the U.S. and European Union is […] Read more

Canadian flax prices, exports going up

U.S. livestock: Live cattle, lean hogs end lower on profit-taking
March feeder cattle also lower
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures fell on Wednesday in a light profit-taking setback following a four-session climb, and on spillover weakness from declines in Wall Street equity markets, traders said. However, continued strength in wholesale beef prices and expectations of higher cash cattle prices this week underpinned the market. Chicago Mercantile Exchange […] Read more

ICE weekly outlook: Canola entering uncharted waters
MarketsFarm — ICE Futures canola contracts climbed sharply higher in the front months during the week ended Wednesday, hitting their highest levels since 2008. The March contract settled Wednesday at $717.80 per tonne, marking the first close above the $700 per tonne level since March 2008. “Everybody is long, and everybody won’t make a profit […] Read more

CBOT weekly outlook: Corn is the leader
MarketsFarm — Over the last week at the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) corn has been leading soybeans, while wheat has been lacking good exports, according to Ryan Ettner, broker with Allendale Inc. in Fort McHenry, Ill. Ettner said he also expects the situation is very likely to continue, barring any kind of a major […] Read more

U.S. grains: Wheat down on profit-taking
Corn pares gains off seven-year high
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures fell about one per cent on Wednesday on profit-taking as the dollar firmed and Wall Street equity markets sagged, analysts said. But worries about tightening global inventories underpinned the grains, keeping wheat, corn and soybean futures near multi-year highs set this month. Chicago Board of Trade March wheat […] Read more

Online series covers Hot Topics in Commodities
Prices and production information are the focus of the Hot Topics in Commodities series hosted by The Western Producer, Manitoba Co-operator, Grainews and Farmtario this winter. The free sessions each feature a look at market demand and fundamentals provided by MarketsFarm analysts as well as a presentation on a current production issue. Opportunities to earn […] Read more

Pulse weekly outlook: Adversity bolsters chickpea bids
'Other crops just pencil in better'
MarketsFarm — Canadian chickpea prices have either stayed firm or slightly went up as the pulse runs into more than its fair share of adversity. Limited supply, reduced demand and environmental factors have all affected the long-term prospects of the crop at home and abroad, according to Colin Young of MidWest Grain in Moose Jaw. […] Read more

U.S. grains: Corn soars four per cent on fresh sales to China
Chicago soy, wheat also climb
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures surged four per cent on Tuesday as news of fresh export sales to China re-ignited concerns about tightening U.S. and global grain supplies, analysts said. Soybeans followed corn higher, with worries about a slow start to the Brazilian soy harvest lending support. Wheat firmed on supply concerns and […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Rising beef prices buoy CME live cattle futures
Colder spell in U.S. Midwest, Plains lifts hogs
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures rose on Tuesday for a fourth straight session, with deferred months setting life-of-contract highs as robust demand for beef lifted packer profit margins and bolstered demand for market-ready cattle, traders said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange April live cattle futures settled up 0.15 cent at 123.1 cents/lb., while June […] Read more

Klassen: Feeder cattle demand improving
The feeder market received a shot of adrenaline last week as corn futures came under pressure while live cattle futures surged. During the first half of the week, western Canadian yearlings were quite sluggish and calf prices steady to $3 lower compared to seven days earlier. Some yearling packages moving direct off-farm in certain areas […] Read more