Researchers from the University of Alberta and AgKnow, the province’s farmer mental health network, are looking to build up Alberta-specific data on farming stress, mental health and well-being, and the ways in which farmers cope. They study team is “looking for farmers, ranchers, or anyone who works or lives on a farm” to participate, researchers […] Read more
Survey to look at farm stress from Alberta angle
Study to explore farmers' levels of resilience against stress
Fund traders add to bearish bets in canola
Funds also net short in MGEX and CBOT wheat, corn
MarketsFarm — Speculative fund traders added to their net short position in canola during the week ended May 30, putting on more bearish bets while also liquidating some previous longs, according to the latest Commitments of Traders report from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). As of May 30, the net managed money short […] Read more
Repeat of record Australian wheat, canola crops unlikely
ABARES expects 2023-24 crop down on year
MarketsFarm — After growing record-large wheat and canola crops in 2022-23, Australia is expected to see a significant drop in production in 2023-24 as developing El Nino weather patterns will likely cut rainfall through the growing season, according to the latest crop report from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES). […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Dryness to cut into Australian production
MarketsFarm — Dry conditions and low soil moisture reserves in key Australian growing regions, along with expectations for developing El Nino weather patterns, are expected to cut into the country’s pulse production in 2023-24, despite steady to higher seeding intentions for several crops, according to the latest crop report from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural […] Read more
EU extends restrictions on Ukrainian grain imports
Restrictions won't apply to seed for planting
Warsaw/Brussels | Reuters — The European Commission said Monday it was extending until Sept. 15 an arrangement whereby five of Ukraine’s EU neighbours can restrict imports of Ukrainian grain. The EU on May 2 allowed the five countries — Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia — to ban domestic sales of Ukrainian wheat, maize, rapeseed […] Read more
Extent of Saudi oil production cut unclear
Reported tensions within OPEC limit price gains
MarketsFarm — At the OPEC+ meeting Sunday in Vienna, Saudi Arabia announced it will cut its oil production by one million barrels per day (BPD) come July. And while that move was bullish for the markets, by how much remains to be seen, said Phil Flynn of the Price Futures Group in Chicago. “It’s probably […] Read more
Klassen: Texas flooding lifts Canadian feeder market
Fed cattle in counter-seasonal trend
For the week ending Sunday, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $6-$8 higher. In some cases, quality yearling packages traded as much as $10 above week-ago levels. Live and feeder cattle futures closed the week US$8-$9 higher as traders monitored flooding conditions in Texas. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a live basis in […] Read more
Animal care council won’t update livestock transport code of practice
NFACC says 'no further action' pending
After over four years’ publicly funded work to develop an updated national code of practice for livestock transport for Canada, the National Farm Animal Care Council has called a halt. In an information update dated May 1, NFACC said its board has now decided “no further action will be taken” by the council to update […] Read more
Canada on track for worst-ever wildfire season
Unusual to see fires nationwide at one time
Ottawa | Reuters — Canada is on track for its worst-ever year of wildfire destruction as warm and dry conditions are forecast to persist through to the end of the summer after an unprecedented start to the fire season, officials said on Monday. Blazes are burning in nearly all Canadian provinces and territories, and federal […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn, soybean futures sag on demand woes
U.S. wheat futures firm
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade corn and soybean futures fell on Monday, retreating from gains made during the overnight trading session on signs that already light export demand for U.S. supplies had weakened further, traders said. Wheat futures were firm, with the biggest gains being notched by K.C. hard red winter wheat […] Read more