Cereals & Production Tips

Crops, Markets, Spring Wheat, Winter Wheat

Prairie wheat bids firm amid widening basis levels

By GFM Network News April 6, 2015

CNS Canada — Cash bids for Canadian wheat were mostly firmer during the week ended Friday. Strengthening U.S. futures were supportive, though basis levels widened in many regions. Prices are as of April 2, due to market closures on Good Friday. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat prices were down 50 cents to up […] Read more

Crops, Markets, Reuters, Spring Wheat, Winter Wheat

Russia may extend tax on wheat exports, deputy PM says

By Reuters, GFM Network News April 4, 2015

Moscow | Reuters — Russia may extend a tax on wheat exports beyond July 1, but is yet to make a final decision, Russian news agencies cited Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich, who is in charge of the sector, as saying on Friday. Russia has imposed the duty on wheat exports since Feb. 1 in […] Read more

phosphate fertilizer spilling out from a hand

Cereals, Crops

New wrinkles to adding phosphorous

If you own the land, adding phosphorus fertilizer will pay off in the long run 

By Les Henry April 1, 2015

On February 8, 2010, my column looked at the economics of large single applications of phosphorus fertilizer. The economics are good, but the practice is still rare. Most graphs showing fertilizer use in Western Canada start in 1960. Before that, fertilizer use was sporadic and included only a few acres with a modest application of […] Read more

Mondelez’s brands in Canada include Oreo cookies, which marked their 100th anniversary with this giant replica unveiled in 2012 in Toronto. (CNW Group/Kraft Canada)

Cereals, Crops, Markets, Reuters

U.S. CFTC sues Kraft, Mondelez over alleged wheat price manipulation

By GFM Network News April 1, 2015

Reuters — The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission on Wednesday charged Kraft Foods Group and Mondelez International with manipulation of prices of wheat used in products such as Oreo and Chips Ahoy cookies. The regulator alleged that Kraft and Mondelez bought $90 million of wheat futures, or a six-month supply, but never intended to take […] Read more

Cereals, Crops, Markets, Spring Wheat, Winter Wheat

Prairie wheat bids weaken slightly, basis improves

By GFM Network News March 30, 2015

CNS Canada –– Wheat cash bids across Western Canada moved slightly lower in most classes during the week ended Friday, amid softness in U.S. futures and improving basis levels. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat prices were steady to down about $4 per tonne, with bids ranging from $207 per tonne in north-central Saskatchewan […] Read more

Cereals, Crops, Markets, Reuters, Spring Wheat, Winter Wheat

Russia seen removing wheat tax in July if inflation slows

By Reuters, GFM Network News March 27, 2015

Moscow | Reuters — Russia, one of the world’s leading wheat exporters, will probably not extend a tax on wheat exports, imposed until June 30, if optimism over lower inflation and a large crop persists among officials, SovEcon consultancy said. Russia’s economy has been hit hard by low global oil prices and Western sanctions due […] Read more

Crops, Markets, Spring Wheat

Durum prices fall as new crop right around corner

By GFM Network News March 26, 2015

CNS Canada — Durum prices in Western Canada are under pressure as other countries’ new durum crops are just around the corner and end-users are well covered. “We have new-crop French and Spanish durum coming on here in a couple months, and the Mexican crop as well,” said Jerry Klassen, manager for Swiss-based GAP SA […] Read more

Crops, Winter Wheat

Don’t rush to diagnose winter kill

Despite this winter’s weather, you may not need to reseed that winter wheat after all

By Lisa Guenther March 26, 2015

Winter wheat growers concerned about winter kill should wait and see how the plants fare this spring before reseeding, says an agrologist. “Don’t make a rash decision especially when you’ve got the rest of your farm to go seed,” says Paul Thoroughgood, who works for Ducks Unlimited and farms south of Moose Jaw. Farmers should give […] Read more

Cereals, Crops, Markets, Reuters

CWB sees global grain crops falling back from records

By GFM Network News March 25, 2015

Geneva | Reuters — The world’s wheat crop will shed three per cent this year to 703.4 million tonnes from last year’s record, but it will still remain above the five-year average, grain marketing company CWB estimated on Wednesday. The global 2015 corn crop should fall 1.6 per cent from a record last year to […] Read more

Crops, Markets, Oats

Oats market cold in Western Canada

By GFM Network News March 25, 2015

CNS Canada –– The oats market in Western Canada has gone cold, with little heat expected until closer to spring seeding. “The basis is the thermometer, and right now oats are getting cold,” said Ryan McKnight of Linear Grain at Carman, Man., noting basis levels were generally fading. “We’re just not seeing much demand for […] Read more

GFM Network News

Canada’s Carney to meet China’s Xi in South Korea

India slaps 30 per cent import duty on yellow peas

U.S. livestock: Cattle regain ground, hogs dip

Cereals