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USDA pegs wheat ending stocks to be lowest since 2013-14

MarketsFarm — As the U.S. northern Plains continue to deal with severe drought conditions, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has significantly lowered its 2021-22 ending stocks estimates for wheat — especially durum and spring wheat. According to USDA’s monthly world agriculture supply and demand estimates (WASDE) released Monday, 2021-22 ending stocks for wheat are […] Read more

MGEX September 2021 wheat (candlesticks) with 20-day moving average (black line), CBOT and K.C. September 2021 wheats (green and yellow lines) and CBOT December 2021 corn (orange line). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat futures rally after U.S. slashes harvest estimates

Agency raises U.S. corn crop forecast from June

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures climbed on Monday on lower-than-expected production estimates for domestic crops damaged by searing weather and drought, analysts said. Corn and soybean futures also jumped. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, in a monthly report, slashed its harvest outlook for spring wheat other than durum by 41 per cent from […] Read more


An undated photo from CN’s media gallery shows a locomotive travelling through the Ashcroft, B.C. area. (CN.ca)

CN, CP trains ordered to slow down against fire risk

Ministerial order in effect until Oct. 31

A new federal ministerial order calls for Canada’s big two railways to significantly cut their train speeds in any areas deemed to be at an “extreme” fire risk. “With extreme weather events occurring more severely and frequently in Canada due to climate change, it is important to have an adaptive regulatory system that responds to […] Read more

A 3-D illustration of Bacillus anthracis bacteria. (Dr_Microbe/iStock/Getty Images)

Anthrax kills southeastern Saskatchewan sheep

Spores forced up by changes in soil moisture

Dramatic shifts in soil moisture are again bringing anthrax spores to the surface on the Prairies, this time in a southeastern Saskatchewan sheep pasture. Lab results on Wednesday confirmed anthrax as the cause of death of one animal in a flock of sheep in the R.M. of South Qu’Appelle, about 50 km east of Regina, […] Read more



CBOT December 2021 corn (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2) and September 2021 corn (yellow open/high/low/close). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Rain pushes corn to 12 per cent weekly drop

Soybeans, wheat hesitant as dry northern U.S. still a concern

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago corn futures dipped on Friday, losing 12 per cent for the week as rain and moderate temperatures were expected to boost U.S. Midwest crops. Wheat followed lower, but was propped up by drier conditions across the northern U.S. Plains, while soybeans inched higher on long-term forecasts returning to hot, dry […] Read more


A sign for Lytton, B.C. on July 1, 2021. (Photo: Reuters/Jennifer Gauthier)

Feds halt CN, CP trains through B.C. wildfire area for two days

'Extended recovery' expected for westbound grain traffic

Updated — A federal ministerial order has been issued halting Canadian National and Canadian Pacific rail movement through the Kamloops area of British Columbia for 48 hours from midnight Friday. Transport Minister Omar Alghabra announced the order late Thursday, ahead of an authorized tour Friday by evacuated residents to the largely-destroyed village of Lytton, about […] Read more

The Italgrani USA durum mill at St. Louis, Missouri. (CNW Group/Richardson International)

Richardson to buy major U.S. durum processor

Italgrani's milling, grain handling assets to go to Winnipeg firm

Agrifood firm Richardson International is set to expand and further diversify its grain processing space with a deal for what’s billed as North America’s single largest durum flour and semolina miller. The Winnipeg company said Thursday it will buy 100 per cent of the shares in Italgrani USA Inc., whose assets include a mill, elevator […] Read more


CBOT December 2021 corn (candlesticks) with MGEX, CBOT and K.C. September 2021 wheats (green, yellow and orange lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybeans, corn fall on cool, wet forecast

Wheat supported by dryness in northern Plains

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybean futures ended lower on Thursday, pressured by cool, rainy forecasts across the U.S. growing belt, though dryness in the upper Midwest continues to threaten developing crops. Corn eased as beneficial rains aided crops entering pollination, while wheat firmed as sparse moisture reached drought-hit spring wheat regions. The most-active soybean […] Read more

File photo of an Alberta wheat field. (ImagineGolf/E+/Getty Images)

Feed weekly outlook: Alberta feed prices rising

MarketsFarm — Higher-than-normal temperatures and continued demand for feed have caused prices for Alberta feed barley and feed wheat to increase over the past few weeks. However, that demand has pulled back somewhat. According to Prairie Ag Hotwire data from Wednesday, high-delivered bids for Alberta feed barley were at $7.84 per bushel, 48 cents higher […] Read more