The acting chief commissioner for Canada’s grain handling regulator has formally levelled up to the chief’s role, while the GM of Manitoba’s general farm group replaces him at the second seat. Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau on Monday appointed Doug Chorney — an agricultural engineer and grain and oilseed grower at East Selkirk, Man. — […] Read more

Former KAP president promoted at CGC
KAP GM to replace Chorney as CGC's assistant chief

U.S. grains: Soybeans touch six-year high on Argentina strike, weather
Grains complex rebounds after stepping back on news of new coronavirus strain
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybeans climbed to six-year highs on Monday as weather and export troubles in Argentina outweighed concerns of a new coronavirus strain hitting Britain. Corn and wheat futures traded near even as soybeans supported the grains complex. Chicago Board of Trade most-active soybeans gained 23-1/2 cents to $12.47-1/2 per bushel, after […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures weaken on technical setback
Hog futures up ahead of USDA data
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures eased on Monday, setting back on some mild technical selling after three days of gains, while hog futures edged higher, traders said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) February live cattle futures settled 0.2 cent lower at 114.65 cents/lb. (all figures US$). The contract hit its highest since Nov. […] Read more

Ban on food aid restrictions blocked at WTO
WTO says outcome 'disappointing' in difficult year
Geneva | Reuters — World Trade Organization members were at odds on Friday over a proposal that would ban countries from restricting food aid deliveries, potentially complicating the response to a feared COVID-fuelled humanitarian catastrophe next year. The proposal was one of two related to the pandemic that failed to make headway at a three-day […] Read more

Ontario to limit imports, transport of live elk, deer
Moves meant to keep out chronic wasting disease
Moving live captive cervids such as elk, deer, moose and caribou into or within Ontario is set to be banned under new provincial regulations to keep out chronic wasting disease (CWD). The province said Thursday it has amended regulations under its Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act that will ban anyone from importing live, captive cervids […] Read more

Prairie cash wheat: CWRS bids rise with U.S. futures
MarketsFarm — Spring wheat bids in Western Canada were mostly higher during the week ended Thursday, with gains in U.S. futures countered somewhat by ongoing strength in the Canadian dollar. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS, 13.5 per cent protein) wheat prices were down $2 to up $4 per tonne, according to price quotes from […] Read more

Funds sitting on large net long in canola
MarketsFarm — The net long position fund traders are holding in canola futures remains historically large, with almost all of the managed money in the market sitting on the long side, according to the latest commitment of traders (CoT) report from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Managed money fund traders as of Tuesday […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soybeans touch 6-1/2 year high
Corn follows as traders eye South American crops
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures surged to their highest in 6-1/2 years on Friday as the rain outlook in key South American growing areas remained uncertain, threatening harvest prospects as global demand strengthens, traders said. Forecasts of low U.S. soybean inventories and strong demand from U.S. processors and importers like China have made […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures firm as cash market rebound seen
Hog report expected to show smaller herd
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures rose for the third day in a row on Friday, on expectations that the cash market would rebound from recent lows in the coming days. Traders also viewed a government report that showed cattle placements during November were down sharply from a year earlier as bullish. “The […] Read more

Feed weekly outlook: Barley market cools ahead of New Year
More strength is still likely, however
MarketsFarm — The feed market in Western Canada may be stabilizing heading into the holiday season, but underlying fundamentals remain supportive and could lead to more strength in the New Year. While the market was holding steady in mid-December, “I think it will go back up in January/February/March,” said Mike Fleischhauer of Eagle Commodities in […] Read more