CBOT May 2021 soybeans with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybeans extend gains on veg oil rally

Corn rangebound, weather weighs on wheat

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybean futures gained for a fourth straight session on Wednesday supported by tightness in vegetable oil markets as traders anticipate U.S. planting data next week. Nearby corn futures rose, while deferred contracts representing the 2021 crop softened ahead of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s March 31 planting intentions and quarterly […] Read more

Thanks to Jim Lundgren, who farms at Glenora, Man., about 85 km west of Morden, for this photo of his early start to spring tillage on March 20, 2021, owing to the recent absence of snow and/or rain in the area. Not that it’s a race, but is spring fieldwork already underway where you are? If yes, feel free to snap a photo and email us at daveb@fbcpublishing.com. (Photo courtesy Jim Lundgren)

Manitoba soil temperatures allow for spring fertilizer

Winter ban lifted, with cautions

Farmers across Manitoba are now cleared to apply spring fertilizers including livestock manure on their fields, thanks to sufficiently warm soil temperatures, the province said Tuesday. Though the winter nutrient ban has been lifted, the province cautioned producers to “assess current weather conditions and periodically check weather forecasts” if they’re applying anytime between now and […] Read more


CBOT May 2021 soybeans (candlesticks) with 20- and 50-day moving averages and CBOT May 2021 soyoil (black line). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soyoil leads soybean complex higher

Wheat follows corn, soy higher

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybean futures climbed on Tuesday, led by rising soybean oil as global edible oil supplies tighten. Corn futures also moved higher, as traders weighed Brazil’s late-planted second crop against beneficial rains in Argentina. Wheat followed the markets higher, despite much-needed rainfall across the U.S. Plains production belt. The most-active soybean […] Read more

Plant leaves were necrotic and leaf tips were turning brown.

Crop advisor casebook: Why did this barley field turn yellow almost overnight?

A Crop Advisor's Solution from the March 23, 2021 issue of Grainews

Driving through lush, green farmland near Elfros, Sask., one day in July, I had a peaceful, easy feeling as I watched a gentle breeze rock the growing crops back and forth in the passing fields. It was a perfect summer day, one that farmers and agronomists dream about. The dream came to an abrupt halt […] Read more


U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai is sworn in at the White House on March 18, 2021. (Photo: Reuters/Tom Brenner)

New U.S. trade chief Tai focused on CUSMA, China ties in calls

New trade deals on hold for now, White House says

Washington | Reuters — New U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai mapped out her priorities and Washington’s desire to rebuild alliances in initial calls on Monday with her counterparts from Canada, Britain and the European Union. Tai, sworn in Thursday as President Joe Biden’s top trade negotiator, emphasized climate change, racial equity and the need to […] Read more

CBOT May 2021 corn with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn steps back after export-led rally

Wheat nears three-month low on better U.S. weather; soyoil pulls soybeans higher

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago corn futures dipped on Monday as improving South American crop weather added pressure to prices after export sales on Friday rallied the market. Soybeans were lifted by rallying soyoil futures, while wheat closed barely higher as favourable planting weather in the U.S. Great Plains and the Black Sea region limited […] Read more


(File photo by Dave Bedard)

Canadian Pacific to buy Kansas City Southern in bet on trade

Biggest North American rail deal ever valued at US$25 billion

Reuters — Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) agreed on Sunday to acquire Kansas City Southern in a US$25 billion cash-and-stock deal to create the first railway spanning the United States, Mexico and Canada, standing to benefit from a pickup in trade. It would be the largest ever combination of North American railways by transaction value. It […] Read more

CBOT May 2021 corn with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn rebounds on technicals, sales to China

Soybeans also gain; wheat weak on improving U.S. crop

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn and soybean futures rebounded on Friday in an end-of-week technical and bargain buying bounce from steep losses the previous day. Corn received an additional boost from the U.S. Agriculture Department’s (USDA) confirmation of large sales to China for a fourth straight day, lifting the market to its first weekly […] Read more



File photo of a pea crop south of Ethelton, Sask. on Aug. 1, 2019. (Dave Bedard photo)

New federal program to help develop on-farm carbon sinks

Plan to build out AAFC's 'Living Labs' concept across country

The federal government plans to put up $185 million over the next 10 years for farmers to work with scientists and others on new ways to pull carbon out of the air. Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson on Thursday announced the Agricultural Climate Solutions (ACS) program, which the government said is […] Read more