File photo of a wheat harvest in Kazakhstan. (Yerbolat Shadrakhov/iStock/Getty Images)

Less wheat expected in Kazakhstan in 2023-24, despite same acres

Soil moisture loss expected in wheat-growing regions

MarketsFarm — As the 2022-23 crop year in Kazakhstan begins to wind down, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) attaché in the country’s capital of Astana estimated its wheat production at 16.4 million tonnes. Should that forecast hold, the attaché’s report noted it would be the largest wheat harvest since 2017-18. However, going into the […] Read more

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

U.S. grains: Chicago soybeans up on major U.S. crush

USDA says winter wheat at 27 per cent good or excellent condition

Mexico City | Reuters — Soybean futures gained following strong U.S. crushing data on Monday, while wheat and corn also closed higher after several eastern European countries banned grain and other food imports from Ukraine, casting further doubt on Ukrainian exports. Members of the National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA) said the U.S. soybean crush jumped […] Read more


(OceanFishing/iStock/Getty Images)

USDA stands pat on U.S. soybean, corn ending stocks

Soy, corn crop projections cut for Argentina

MarketsFarm — Projected ending stocks for soybeans and corn in the United States for the current marketing year were left unchanged by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in its latest monthly supply/demand report (WASDE) — coming as a surprise to market participants who had generally anticipated downward revisions to the carryout numbers. USDA left 2022-23 […] Read more

Parrish and Heimbecker says this view of its Kincardine, Ont. site, pre-construction, shows where a new truck receiving area will be set up. (ParrishAndHeimbecker.com)

P+H upgrading southwestern Ontario elevator

Improved unload times expected for wheat deliveries

Updated, April 6 — Agrifood firm Parrish and Heimbecker has started “major” upgrades on one of its southwestern Ontario grain elevators, with plans to dedicate the site to milling wheat. Winnipeg-based P+H said Tuesday the work already underway at its inland facility on Highway 21 just south of Kincardine will boost unloading speeds on grain […] Read more


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

U.S. grains: Chicago futures lower on U.S. weather outlooks

Traders keep eye on warming trend for northern states

Mexico City | Reuters — Chicago corn futures closed lower on Wednesday after a day of ups and downs on improved weather outlooks for planting season in the U.S. and market readjustments from technically oversold positions, traders said. The prospect of a drier, warmer spell boosting spring field work in the northern farm belt that […] Read more

CBOT May 2023 soft red winter wheat with 20-day moving average, MGEX May 2023 hard red spring wheat (yellow line) and K.C. May 2023 hard red winter wheat (orange line). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Chicago grains down on better weather, profit-taking

U.S. winter wheat crop rating reported at lowest since 1989

Mexico City | Reuters — Chicago grains futures closed lower on Tuesday as traders took profits, analysts said, while improving weather forecasts eased concerns about planting in the United States. Blizzard warnings were posted on Tuesday across most of the northern Plains spring wheat belt, but forecasts called for a turn to warmer and drier […] Read more


File photo of an irrigated alfalfa stand in Saudi Arabia. (JohnnyGreig/E+/Getty Images)

Saudi Arabia highly dependent on grain imports

Alfalfa more profitable for domestic growers

MarketsFarm — While Saudi Arabia is a giant among the oil-producing countries of the world, the desert kingdom does produce small amounts of grain. With a population that’s about one million less than Canada’s, Saudi Arabia is extremely dependent on importing its grain from overseas. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) attaché in Riyadh explained […] Read more

CBOT May 2023 soybeans with 20-day moving average (right column) and NYMEX May 2023 West Texas intermediate crude oil (black line, left column). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Chicago soybeans, wheat up on energy boost

Crude oil jumps on surprise OPEC+ output cuts

Mexico City | Reuters — Chicago soybean and wheat futures closed higher on Monday, boosted by a rally in energy markets and concerns over U.S. crop conditions. Corn closed lower, however, as weather forecasts showed slightly drier conditions that would be favourable to planting, analysts said. Oil prices spiked after a surprise announcement by OPEC+ […] Read more


(Thinkstock photo)

Prairie cash wheat: Reds higher, durum dips

U.S. wheat futures up on the week

MarketsFarm — Wheat prices on the Canadian Prairies saw modest increases in the red spring varieties during the week ended Thursday, while durum stepped back. Significant gains in the U.S. wheat complex spilled over into Canadian cash prices, but stronger Canadian dollar tempered further increases. Ongoing concerns about dry conditions in the U.S., especially the […] Read more