ICE January 2024 canola with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: Canola pulling lower

Futures subject to 'financial gravity'

MarketsFarm — Canola futures on the Intercontinental Exchange kicked off the week of Oct. 23-27 with sharp losses, as the most heavily traded January contract busted through its support level of $700 per tonne. Among the reasons for canola’s steep fall, as David Derwin pointed out, were the better than average yields from this year’s […] Read more

A soybean field north of St. Adolphe, Man. on Sept. 17, 2023. (Dave Bedard photo)

CBOT weekly outlook: Seasonal harvest pressure weighs on soy, corn

Soyoil/meal spread worth watching

MarketsFarm — Soybean and corn futures at the Chicago Board of Trade may be hard pressed to move much higher in the short-term, as advancing harvest operations across the U.S. leave the market flush with supplies. However, solid underlying demand should remain supportive on the other side, according to an analyst. “Seasonal harvest pressure is […] Read more


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

U.S. grains: Corn, soy, wheat futures sag as beneficial rains hit South America

Rains benefit Argentina's core farmland

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. grain and soybean futures ended lower on Wednesday as favourable rains reached crop belts in South America and the U.S., analysts said. Traders are watching global weather after drought has hurt crop production in Argentina and the U.S. Plains and slowed soybean plantings in Brazil. South American conditions are particularly […] Read more

Fed cattle prices hold steady, beef production below year-ago levels

Fed cattle prices hold steady, beef production below year-ago levels

The Markets with Deb McMillin, from the November 2023 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Fed cattle The fed price in Western Canada has held mostly steady as supplies have been ample but manageable with adequate fall demand. Slaughter capacity limited upside as additional cows took up some of the available hook space. Recently, the fed steer average has stayed between $390/cwt and $391/cwt.  The mid-October average is right at […] Read more


Chickpea curry. (Modesigns58/iStock/Getty Images)

Pulse weekly outlook: Activity to ramp up for chickpeas

'Quality was good, yields were lower'

MarketsFarm — Things are quiet right now on the chickpea front, but that could change in a few weeks, according to Jake Hansen of Mid-West Grain in Moose Jaw. “I think everyone’s getting prepped and ready for Argentina’s harvest, but it’s quiet,” he said. “There’s still movement on previous contracts, but not a lot of […] Read more

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

U.S. grains: Corn dips on harvests, technical selling

CBOT soymeal climbs to seven-month high; Chinese ag companies sign U.S. purchase deals

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade corn futures fell for a third straight session on Tuesday and neared a two-week low under pressure from U.S. harvesting and technical selling, analysts said. Wheat futures also eased, while soybeans and soymeal jumped. A quick harvest pace for U.S. corn and soy is expected to continue […] Read more


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

U.S. grains: Soybean, corn futures weaken as harvests progress

CBOT wheat rises on bargain buying

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures finished lower on Monday as advancing U.S. harvests uncovered strong yields and increased farmers’ sales of their crops, analysts said. Pressure from harvests also hung over corn futures. U.S. farmers have finished harvesting 76 per cent of the country’s soybeans and 59 per cent of […] 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


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

U.S. grains: Corn futures rally to August high

Strong demand in U.S. supports CBOT soybeans

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures rallied above US$5 a bushel to their highest level since August on Thursday, while soybean futures touched a four-week high. The gains came as farmers are in the middle of harvesting their crops, a time when the influx of fresh supplies normally pressures prices. A severe drought that […] Read more

ICE November 2023 canola with 20- and 50-day moving averages and January 2024 canola (black line). (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: Upside seen for canola prices

'Aggressive manipulation' seen as a factor

MarketsFarm — Early gains were followed by late losses on ICE Futures’ canola market during the week ended Wednesday. The November canola contract began the week at $704.60 per tonne before rising up to $725.80/tonne on Monday, then ending the week at $711.70. The January contract went in similar directions, starting at $710.10/tonne before moving […] Read more