Four years of plot and field research by Farming Smarter to study the use of a precision planter, such as this Monosem planter to seed grains, oilseeds and pulse crops, show overall the planters produce an even crop stand and good yields particularly on 12-inch row spacing.

In search of a uniform crop stand

Seeding research and technology are working to help farmers increase yields with potential to reduce input costs

If uniformity of stand establishment is a key element to optimizing crop yield, is one seeding system better than another? Should you run out and buy something new? According to Jason Casselman, an agronomy specialist with the Canola Council of Canada, farmers can make gains in the uniformity of their canola stands just by paying […] Read more

CBOT March 2023 soft red winter wheat with 20-day moving average, MGEX March 2023 hard red spring wheat (yellow high/low/close) and K.C. March 2023 hard red winter wheat (orange H/L/C). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat, corn, soy down on stronger U.S. dollar, interest rate fears

Uncertainty over Black Sea deal underpins corn, wheat

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures fell more than two per cent on Wednesday and corn and soybeans followed the trend lower, pressured by a stronger U.S. dollar and fears of more interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve, analysts said. Fundamental news for grains and oilseeds was thin, leaving markets stuck within recent […] Read more


ICE March 2023 canola with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: Canola drifting lower

Near-record soy still expected from South America

MarketsFarm — ICE Futures canola contracts drifted lower during the week ended Wednesday, although values remained rangebound overall. “The market is maybe coming to the realization that we still have near-record South American (soybean) supplies on hand,” Ken Ball of PI Financial in Winnipeg said of the downtrend. While Argentina has suffered crop losses from […] Read more

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

U.S. grains: Soy eases off multi-month highs

Futures down as Brazil's harvest progresses; CBOT corn, wheat also down

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures fell on Tuesday on profit-taking after Monday’s multi-month highs and fundamental pressure from the advancing harvest of a likely record-large soy crop in Brazil, analysts said. Corn and wheat drifted lower in technical moves with worries about a global recession adding to bearish sentiment. Chicago Board of Trade […] Read more


Ag tech: Look before you leap

Ag tech: Look before you leap

Consider these factors before you put your money into the latest ag innovation

Although it’s easy to be smitten with the latest precision agricultural technology, one expert in the field advises people to look before they leap when it comes to adopting the technological innovations on offer. “Do your homework and know that the return on investment or the value of a technology on one farm is not […] Read more

(Xinzheng/Getty Images)

China to plant more soy, speed up GMOs to ensure food supply

Beijing reiterates goals to increase soy acres, intercrop with corn

Beijing | Reuters — China will increase its efforts to boost output of soybeans and edible oils, state media reported on Monday, citing a key rural policy document, as it continues to push for greater self-sufficiency in its key food supplies. The world’s top soybean buyer is trying to lower its heavy reliance on imports […] Read more


Cargo ship Despina V, carrying Ukrainian grain, is seen in the Black Sea off Kilyos near Istanbul, Turkey on Nov. 2, 2022.  (Photo: Reuters/Umit Bektas)

Russia says sanctions a barrier to Black Sea grain deal renewal

Reuters — Russia said Monday it would be “inappropriate” to extend the Black Sea grain deal unless sanctions affecting its agricultural exports are lifted and other issues are resolved. The Black Sea Grain Initiative, signed by Russia and Ukraine last July, created a safe corridor to allow grain to be exported from Ukrainian ports blockaded […] Read more

CBOT March 2023 soybean meal with 20- and 100-day moving averages (yellow and green lines, right column) and CBOT March 2023 soybeans (blue line, left column). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soymeal touches highest since 2014

Spec buying, Argentina weather lifts meal futures; CBOT March corn, wheat, soybeans also up

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soymeal futures hit their highest in almost nine years on Monday on speculative buying and uncertainty about crop prospects in Argentina, despite recent rains, analysts said. Surging soymeal values lifted soybean futures, while corn and wheat rose on worries about the future of Ukraine’s safe shipping channel for grain exports. […] Read more


CBOT March 2023 soft red winter wheat with Bollinger bands (20,2), MGEX March 2023 hard red spring wheat (yellow line) and K.C. March 2023 hard red winter wheat (orange line). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat strong on concerns about Ukraine, Russian exports

Chicago corn, soy futures rise

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures rallied on Friday, supported by concerns the grain deal allowing for Russian and Ukraine exports from Black Sea ports could splinter amid escalations in the nearly year-long war between the two countries, traders said. Corn and soybean futures also were strong, with corn following the gains in wheat […] Read more

CBOT March 2023 soft red winter wheat with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat, corn, soybean futures fall

U.S. export sales data in focus

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures dropped on Thursday, with rains in the U.S. Plains easing some concerns about crop health in that key growing area, traders said. Corn and soybean futures also were weaker, pressured by lacklustre export data and expectations that overseas buyers will soon shift their orders to Brazil and Argentina […] Read more