A customer looks at food items displayed on shelves at a supermarket, amid the COVID-19 outbreak in Shanghai, China on Nov. 30, 2022. (Photo: Reuters/Aly Song)

CBOT weekly outlook: Circumstances could mess with usual holiday lull

MarketsFarm — Usually at this time of year, the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) slips into its holiday lull, with most trading sticking to a sideways range, Scott Capinegro of Barrington Commodities said, suggesting that could change. “With such geo-political stuff going on and a possible railroad strike [in the United States], it kind of […] Read more



(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Grain prices expected to hold firm

'The farmer doesn't seem super interested in selling'

MarketsFarm — Feed prices on the Prairies are likely to remain steady through to the new year, according to Brandon Motz of CorNine Commodities at Lacombe, Alta. “I think the markets for now are to be flat,” he said, noting there has been talk in the market of 25 trains of U.S. corn that have […] Read more

ICE January 2023 canola (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2) and ICE March 2023 canola (black line). (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: Premium showing in front-month canola

'Surge' of farmer selling expected in January

MarketsFarm — The ICE Futures canola market held rangebound during the week ended Nov. 16, with the widening premium of the nearby January contract over the March futures seen as a sign of good nearby demand. ICE January canola settled Wednesday at $882.40 per tonne, a $10.50 per tonne premium over the March contract. That […] Read more


Chickpeas. (CalypsoArt/iStock/Getty Images)

Pulse weekly outlook: Chickpea prices rise amid tight supplies

Supplies still haven't recovered off 2021

MarketsFarm — Chickpea prices in Western Canada are on the rise due to tight supplies, according to one trader. Prices for Kabuli chickpeas rose five cents per pound from last month, with high-delivered bids ranging from 40 cents/lb. for the seven-millimetre variety to 55.5 cents/lb. for 10-mm, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire. In comparison to […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Adverse weather limits demand for calves

Stronger Canadian dollar adds pressure

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were steady to $2 higher. Calves traded steady to $10 lower in Alberta while markets in Saskatchewan and Manitoba were quoted $5 lower to $2 higher. Adverse weather resulted in a softer tone for calves with Lethbridge temperatures dipping to -25 to -33 C last week. The […] Read more


File photo of barley being loaded off the combine. (Collab Media/iStock/Getty Images)

Feed weekly outlook: Grain supplies good, freight costs higher

'They don't have as many drivers as normal'

MarketsFarm — There are still sufficient supplies of feed barley and wheat to be had on the Canadian Prairies — but there are issues with getting that feed from point to point, according to Erin Harakal, senior trader at Agfinity at Stony Plain, Alta. “I do think there are enough supplies from what we have […] Read more

ICE January 2023 canola (candlesticks) with 20- and 50-day moving averages. (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: Trader sees canola topping $900 mark soon

Crush margins at 'very, very extreme levels'

MarketsFarm — Despite surpassing the $900 per tonne mark at times during the week ended Wednesday, ICE Futures’ January canola contract never settled above that psychological level. Rising prices prior to the weekend later gave away to selling pressure after the weekend due to a correction in vegetable oil prices, according to broker Ken Ball […] Read more


Green lentils. (Savany/iStock/Getty Images)

Pulse weekly outlook: Price disconnect between lentil growers, destinations

Stronger loonie pressures prices

MarketsFarm — There’s something of a disconnect in green lentil prices, between what Canadian farmers have seen recently and to where those pulses are being sold, according to Toronto-based Marcos Mosnaim of Export Packers. Green lentils increased in price up until a couple of weeks ago, Mosnaim said. “It was a combination of farmers not […] Read more

(WPohlDesign/iStock/Getty Images)

Klassen: Tighter supplies underpin western Canadian feeder market

Weather conditions may sway buying interest

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were unchanged to $4 higher. Heavier calves notched a week-over-week gain of $2-$4. Mid-weight and lighter calves traded steady to $5 lower in Alberta but $4-$5 on either side of unchanged in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Yearling numbers were limited and buyers paid up for quality packages while […] Read more