(YinYang/E+/Getty Images)

National job vacancy rate increases in ag sector

CNS Canada — The national job vacancy rate in the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting sector is increasing compared to the same period a year ago. Data for the first quarter of 2018, ending April 30, showed a vacancy rate of 6.9 per cent in the sector compared to 5.3 per cent in the first […] Read more

Canola south of Ethelton, Sask. on Aug. 3, 2017. (Dave Bedard photo)

Canola prices vulnerable after StatsCan report

CNS Canada — The latest acreage report from Statistics Canada failed to surprise most investors in the market, but still could leave canola futures looking overpriced, according to a trader. “It certainly is a negative number,” said Ken Ball of PI Financial in Winnipeg, referring to the agency’s estimate for canola. StatsCan’s report on Friday […] Read more



Barley stocks are tight and imports of U.S. corn into Western Canada will likely continue into the new crop year.

Tighter corn and barley stocks for 2018-19

Market Talk with Jerry Klassen

It’s that time of year when I receive many inquiries in regard to the feed grain outlook for the 2018-19 crop year. In the previous article, I discussed South American crop conditions and North American projections for the upcoming crop year. Feedlot operators have been factoring higher costs per pound gain which has resulted in […] Read more


Kabuli chickpeas. (PulseCanada.com)

Chickpeas seen making Prairie comeback

CNS Canada — Chickpeas should see a resurgence in Western Canada this spring, as farmers who hadn’t seeded the crop for a number of years shift some acres back from other pulses. “We sold a sizeable amount of chickpea planting seed,” said Colin Young of Midwest Grain at Moose Jaw. After an excellent quality year […] Read more




Total stocks of principal Canadian field crops at Dec. 31, 2017, rounded to nearest thousand tonnes. (StatCan.gc.ca)

Canadian canola stocks jump

CNS Canada — Stocks of Canadian canola have increased substantially, according to the latest estimate from Statistics Canada. Total stocks of oats, lentils and peas also rose, but not by as much as canola. StatsCan on Monday pegged canola stocks, as of Dec. 31, 2017 at 14.15 million tonnes, up from the 2016 total of […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

ICE weekly outlook: Canola holds rangebound with bearish StatsCan data

CNS Canada — Canola contracts on the ICE Futures Canada complex stayed mostly rangebound during the week ended Wednesday, even as sharp fluctuations in the Canadian dollar and a bearish Statistics Canada report impacted the market. StatsCan on Wednesday released its final production estimates of the year, projecting canola production in 2017-18 at 21.3 million […] Read more

(File photo courtesy Canola Council of Canada)

Canola stocks look less tight in StatsCan report

CNS Canada — Canadian farmers grew a record amount of canola in 2017, despite weather concerns, according to updated production estimates on Wednesday from Statistics Canada. The agency pegged production in 2017-18 at 21.3 million tonnes, up from the September estimate of 19.7 million and last year’s total of 19.6 million. The rise in production […] Read more