(Dave Bedard photo)

StatCan’s canola call in line with expectations

Agency also boosts wheat projection

MarketsFarm — While Statistics Canada (StatCan) cut its projection for canola production in 2022-23 by 400,000 tonnes, FarmLink Marketing Solutions senior analyst Neil Townsend said the number could go lower. StatCan on Wednesday issued its latest production estimates and lowered its call on canola from the 19.5 million tonnes forecast in its Aug. 29 report […] Read more

(Medioimages/Photodisc/Getty Images)

CBOT weekly outlook: USDA report affecting corn, soybean prices

MarketsFarm — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) monthly world agricultural supply/demand estimates (WASDE), released Monday, have since played a major role on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT), one trader says. Terry Reilly, grains analyst for Futures International in Chicago, said while corn ending stocks (1.219 billion bushels) and average yield (172.5 bushels per […] Read more


CBOT November 2022 soybeans (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, green and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybeans, corn down on technical setback

Chicago December wheat rises

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean and corn futures fell on Wednesday on a round of technical selling as traders adjusted their positions following a market rally sparked by the government’s Monday forecast for smaller-than-expected harvests. “That was a surprising number out of the U.S. Agriculture Department and the market reacted,” said Chris Robinson, founder […] Read more

File photo of a BNSF grain train in Montana. (Photo courtesy BNSF Railway)

U.S. railways to halt grain shipments ahead of potential shutdown

Fall fertilizer traffic also at risk

Chicago | Reuters — Some U.S. railroads will start halting crop shipments on Thursday, a day ahead of a potential work stoppage, an agricultural association and sources at two grain co-operatives said on Tuesday, threatening exports and feed deliveries for livestock. With farmers starting to harvest autumn crops that are shipped to meat and biofuels […] Read more


File photo of a BNSF grain train crossing the Gassman Coulee trestle near Minot, North Dakota. (Photo courtesy BNSF Railway)

U.S. government makes contingency plans for rail shutdown

Three unions represent about 60,000 rail workers

Washington/Los Angeles | Reuters — U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration on Tuesday made contingency plans aiming to ensure deliveries of critical goods in the event of a shutdown of the U.S. rail system while pressing railroads and unions to reach a deal to avoid a work stoppage affecting freight and passenger service. The potential shutdown, […] Read more

CME October 2022 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, dark red and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Live cattle futures slip from seven-year peak

Hogs up on technical buying

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures fell after hitting their highest in seven years on Monday. Feeder cattle futures continued to weaken, with the front-month contract dropping to a five-week low, as the prospect of high feeding costs due to strong corn prices pressured the market. Hog futures firmed on technical […] Read more


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

Pulse weekly outlook: Seasonal harvest pressure weighs on Prairie pea bids

MarketsFarm — Pea bids in Western Canada have come under some pressure over the past few weeks, as harvest of the crop nears completion. However, country movement remains light, as producers concentrate on bringing in their remaining grain and oilseed crops. “They want to get done harvest before they worry about (pricing),” said grain broker […] Read more

CBOT December 2022 corn (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, orange and green lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn, soybean futures dip on profit-taking

Chicago wheat firms

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade corn and soybean futures eased on Tuesday but remained near their nearly three-month highs as the government’s reduced forecasts for this year’s harvests continued to underpin prices, traders said. Wheat futures were firm, supported by uncertainty over Black Sea supplies following Russian criticism of a diplomatic deal […] Read more


CME April 2023 live cattle (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

Klassen: April live cattle futures pull nearby cash feeder market higher

More feedlots switching back to barley

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded steady to $3 higher on average. Quality yearling packages of larger volume traded $2-$3 above week-ago levels. The calf market is becoming more defined. Larger calf volumes were on offer in Saskatchewan and Manitoba but smaller numbers were noted in Alberta. Therefore, we can’t accurately compare […] Read more

CME October 2022 lean hogs (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, brown and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME lean hog futures weaken

Live cattle futures gain, feeder cattle under pressure

Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures eased on Monday as the U.S. Agriculture Department lifted its forecast for domestic pork production and lowered its price outlook for pigs for this year. The department, in a monthly report, raised its estimate for pork production in the third quarter by 0.9 per cent […] Read more