(Dave Bedard photo)

Managed money adding to net short positions in canola

Canola at biggest net short position in months

MarketsFarm — Managed money fund traders remain bearish canola, growing the net short position in the ICE Futures market to the second largest level of the past year, according to the latest Commitments of Traders report from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). As of Oct. 17, the net managed money short position in […] Read more

(TDTT/iStock/Getty Images)

Seed regulation consultation results released

CFIA 'anticipates' more consultations this winter

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is getting closer to updating its seed regulations. On Monday, the agency released a “What We Heard” report summarizing the responses of 315 individuals and groups who participated in an online survey from Feb. 15 to May 1. The CFIA is looking to update seed regulations to “reduce complexity, protect […] Read more


People gather around trucks carrying humanitarian aid that entered the Gaza Strip from Egypt via the Rafah border crossing on October 21, 2023. The first of 20 trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered the war-torn and besieged Gaza Strip on October 21 through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, said AFP correspondents on both sides. Photo: Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto.

Foodgrains Bank calls for urgent aid in Gaza

Humanitarian groups have had limited access to the besieged area

Over 6,000 men, women and children in Israel and Gaza have died in two weeks of conflict, the Foodgrains Bank said. More than 1.4 million people have been displaced.  As a member of the Humanitarian Coalition, the Foodgrains Bank is working with partner organizations and local groups to bring humanitarian assistance to the area.



(Thinkstock photo)

Prairie cash wheat: Spring wheat bids rise with U.S. futures

Weaker loonie also offers support

MarketsFarm — Spring wheat bids in Western Canada were mostly higher during the week ended Thursday, as gains in U.S. futures and weakness in the Canadian dollar provided support. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS, 13.5 per cent protein) wheat prices were up by $5-$10.20 per tonne across the Prairies, according to price quotes from […] Read more

File photo of locks on the Welland Canal at Allanburg, Ont. (Jimfeng/iStock/Getty Images)

Seaway workers’ strike underway

Management awaiting CIRB ruling on grain traffic

Unionized workers on the St. Lawrence Seaway walked off the job just after midnight Sunday, shutting the waterway to all cargo vessels including grain traffic for now. Unifor, which represents about 360 Seaway workers across five locals in Ontario and Quebec, had served Seaway management with 72 hours’ strike notice on Wednesday. In a release […] Read more


File photo of locks on the Welland Canal at Allanburg, Ont. (Jimfeng/iStock/Getty Images)

Seaway to seek order exempting grain traffic from strike action

Management, union say talks still ongoing

Facing a strike that would shut down traffic on the waterway as early as Sunday, the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. has asked for an order confirming that grain would need to continue moving. Unifor, the union representing over 360 seaway workers across five union locals in Ontario and Quebec, on Wednesday served the corporation […] Read more

CME December 2023 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME hog futures hit contract lows

Cattle futures also sag

Chicago | Reuters — Lean hog futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange fell to life-of-contract lows on Friday and cattle futures also retreated, pressured by technical selling and worries that a slowing global economy could hurt demand for meat, traders said. Hog futures fell the most, with the benchmark December contract settling down two cents, […] Read more


CBOT December 2023 corn with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn drops back below US$5

Soybeans down off one-month high

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade corn futures closed lower after hitting their highest price since August on Friday, while soybean futures retreated from a one-month high. Traders took profits after the markets rose earlier on concerns about a drought in Brazil disrupting grain shipments on rivers and slowing soy plantings, analysts said. […] Read more

The McDougall Creek wildfire burns outside West Kelowna, B.C. on Aug. 18, 2023. (Photo: Reuters/Chris Helgren)

AgriRecovery feed, freight, breeding herd aid set for Alberta, Saskatchewan, B.C.

Feds, provinces announce combined $365 million in aid programs

The federal and Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia governments are jointly putting up $365 million to support ranchers and farmers up against this summer’s drought and wildfire damage. The feds on Friday announced their 60 per cent, or $219 million, share of AgriRecovery program funding for the three westernmost provinces. “I’ve had the opportunity to […] Read more