Bulk wheat being loaded on a ship in a Russian port. (YGrek/iStock/Getty Images)

Global grain production to increase, IGC predicts

MarketsFarm — The International Grains Council (IGC) issued projections Thursday calling for a slight increase in total global grain production for the current marketing year and for 2020-21. The U.K.-based council forecast world production at 2.175 billion tonnes, which would be an increase of three million tonnes from its February report. The IGC said that’s […] Read more

(PortOfThunderBay.com)

Port of Thunder Bay resumes shipping grain

Welland Canal portion of St. Lawrence Seaway also open for season

The Port of Thunder Bay has reopened for the season and is already shipping products including grain. The 2020 navigation season officially began Thursday with the arrival of the tug Sharon M1 and barge Huron Spirit. The vessel combination came abeam of the Mission Pier entrance at 9:30 p.m. local time, port officials said in […] Read more


(Country Guide file photo)

Prairie cash wheat: Rising loonie cuts into bids

MarketsFarm — Hard red spring wheat bids in Western Canada lost ground during the week ended Thursday, as the bearish influence of a strengthening Canadian dollar more than offset supportive influence from gains in U.S. futures. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS, 13.5 per cent protein) wheat prices were down $5.50-$10 per tonne, according to […] Read more

The Big River Resources ethanol plant at West Burlington, Iowa, about 120 km southwest of Davenport. (Steven Vaughn photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

U.S. EPA waives fuel requirements, extends biofuels deadline

Deadline extended to help refineries

Reuters — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Friday unveiled measures to help oil refineries cope with fallout from the coronavirus outbreak, including waiving anti-smog requirements for gasoline and extending the deadline for small facilities to show compliance with the nation’s biofuels law. The outbreak has touched off a massive global decline in demand for […] Read more


CBOT May 2020 wheat with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat firm on Russia export quota plan

Chicago corn ends lower

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures rose on Friday on optimism about export prospects as a Russian plan to cap grain exports for the rest of the season shifted attention back to potential supply tensions during the coronavirus pandemic. However, futures pared gains on profit-taking ahead of the weekend and worries that the rally […] Read more



CBOT May 2020 wheat with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat retreats from two-month peak

Corn rallies to end firm

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures fell on Thursday, retreating from a two-month high set the previous session, as traders booked profits and awaited developments in the coronavirus crisis that had sparked the recent run-up in wheat markets. Soybean futures also declined but corn rallied late in the session to eke out a modest […] Read more



(File photo by Dave Bedard)

Farm suppliers race COVID-19 spread for planting season

Winnipeg/Chicago | Reuters — North America’s biggest farm suppliers are accelerating shipments of fertilizer, seeds and agricultural chemicals to crop-growing regions in an unprecedented race against the coronavirus that threatens to disrupt planting season. The timing could not be worse for farmers preparing to plant crops. Disruptions in deliveries of fertilizer, seeds or chemicals could […] Read more