(Keshin/iStock/Getty Images)

Quinoa production improves in 2022-23

Yields swing closer to average level

MarketsFarm — Compared to last year, Canada’s 2022-23 quinoa harvest has significantly improved, with yields exceeding expectations, according to Michael Dutcheshen of Saskatoon-based NorQuin. “Last year was a tough year for Canadian farmers for all crops, with quinoa no exception. This year is looking a lot more positive. We seem to have missed the hot […] Read more

ICE November 2022 canola (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, purple and black lines). (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: Rising canola prices hit a one-day thud

"There's a day where we need to take a pause"

MarketsFarm — ICE Futures canola rose like Icarus over the past few weeks, but just like that Greek mythological figure, it flew too high, only to come back down to Earth. After the November canola contract rose in seven of its last eight sessions — in the middle of harvest, no less — and gained […] Read more



Fresh bread in Egypt. (Goldream/iStock/Getty Images)

Egypt’s private sector wheat imports stall due to dollar shortage

"We are in the red zone"

Cairo | Reuters — The price of wheat and flour used to make unsubsidized bread has spiked in Egypt as importers struggle to pay for wheat stuck at ports amid a dollar shortage, traders and the country’s chamber of cereals told Reuters this week. Around 700,000 tonnes of wheat haven’t been released from customs, causing […] Read more


The Mississippi River. (Mark D. Tomer photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

U.S. barge backlog swells on parched Mississippi River

Chicago | Reuters –– Commercial barge traffic on southern stretches of the Mississippi River was at a standstill on Tuesday as low water levels halted shipments of grain, fertilizer and other commodities on the critical waterway, shipping sources said. The supply chain snarl comes just as harvesting of corn and soybeans, the largest U.S. cash […] Read more

CBOT December 2022 corn (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, orange and dark green lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn, soy rise on broad commodities strength

Chicago December wheat dips

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn and soybean futures closed higher on Tuesday, following broad strength in commodity and equity markets tied to easing concerns about the global economy, traders said. The dollar index retreated from two-decade highs set last week, softening after Australia’s central bank surprised investors with a smaller-than-expected interest rate hike. The […] Read more


File photo of a pea crop south of Ethelton, Sask. on Aug. 1, 2019. (Dave Bedard photo)

Pulse weekly outlook: Saskatchewan’s pulse harvest seen as average

MarketsFarm — As the harvest in Saskatchewan wraps up for 2022, pulse specialist Dale Risula said pulse crops were quite good this year — a definite improvement over last year’s drought-stricken production. “Overall for the province we will likely see average production this year, although some areas suffered pretty badly,” Risula said. He said there […] Read more



Quebec’s Agriculture Minister Andre Lamontagne speaks to the CAQ’s annual meeting in Drummondville in late May 2022. (Andre Lamontagne video screengrab via Facebook)

Quebec ag minister cruises to re-election

Legault's CAQ scores bigger second majority

Quebec’s incumbent agriculture, food and fisheries minister will be returning to the province’s legislature as part of an even larger government caucus. Preliminary results in Monday’s provincial election put Francois Legault’s Coalition avenir Quebec (CAQ) in a solid majority government position with 90 of 125 seats, followed by Dominique Anglade’s Liberals, remaining in official opposition […] Read more