Parrish and Heimbecker says this view of its Kincardine, Ont. site, pre-construction, shows where a new truck receiving area will be set up. (ParrishAndHeimbecker.com)

P+H upgrading southwestern Ontario elevator

Improved unload times expected for wheat deliveries

Updated, April 6 — Agrifood firm Parrish and Heimbecker has started “major” upgrades on one of its southwestern Ontario grain elevators, with plans to dedicate the site to milling wheat. Winnipeg-based P+H said Tuesday the work already underway at its inland facility on Highway 21 just south of Kincardine will boost unloading speeds on grain […] Read more

Detail from the front of the CBOT building in Chicago. (Vito Palmisano/iStock/Getty Images)

CBOT weekly outlook: U.S. planted acres in flux

USDA's next WASDE due out Tuesday; ending stocks expected to increase

MarketsFarm — Ahead of the April supply and demand report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Scott Capinegro of Barrington Commodities said he expects ending stocks to increase — while planted acres are likely to change. “After looking at the [quarterly grain] stocks numbers, you would think they would be lowering ending stocks just […] Read more


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

U.S. grains: Chicago futures lower on U.S. weather outlooks

Traders keep eye on warming trend for northern states

Mexico City | Reuters — Chicago corn futures closed lower on Wednesday after a day of ups and downs on improved weather outlooks for planting season in the U.S. and market readjustments from technically oversold positions, traders said. The prospect of a drier, warmer spell boosting spring field work in the northern farm belt that […] Read more

File photo of a field of soybeans under turbines at southern Manitoba’s St. Joseph wind farm. (Dougall_Photography/iStock/Getty Images)

Sustainable soybean program underway

Food-grade, IP soy growers showing interest in verification, Soy Canada says

A new voluntary program spearheaded by Canada’s soybean value-chain group is expected to help Canadian soy growers seeking a sustainability mark for their goods. Soy Canada on March 28 announced the rollout of Sustainable Canadian Soy, a program it said will be available for the 2023 growing season. Exporters and handlers who supply customers that […] Read more


A University of Saskatchewan researcher conducting phosphorus fertilization trials near Central Butte in 2021.

Phosphorus fertility studies reveal best placement

Proper placement of phosphorus fertilizer is crucial to meet the nutritional needs of plants

Like most Canadians these days, farmers are looking to get the most bang for their bucks. That’s especially true when it comes to applying phosphorus fertilizers to their fields. Jeff Schoenau, a professor of soil fertility at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) and chair of soil nutrient management for the Saskatchewan Ministry of […] Read more

For most farmers, the simplest, easiest and cheapest way to measure soil moisture is using the hand-feel method.

How to understand and measure soil water

It’s important to estimate stored soil moisture at planting to adjust crop inputs

Water is often the most crucial factor in controlling crop yields. The amount of water used by crops can be affected by several factors including the availability of stored soil water, amount of precipitation during the growing season, crop rooting depth and various environmental aspects such as day length, amount of solar radiation, humidity, temperature […] Read more


CBOT May 2023 soft red winter wheat with 20-day moving average, MGEX May 2023 hard red spring wheat (yellow line) and K.C. May 2023 hard red winter wheat (orange line). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Chicago grains down on better weather, profit-taking

U.S. winter wheat crop rating reported at lowest since 1989

Mexico City | Reuters — Chicago grains futures closed lower on Tuesday as traders took profits, analysts said, while improving weather forecasts eased concerns about planting in the United States. Blizzard warnings were posted on Tuesday across most of the northern Plains spring wheat belt, but forecasts called for a turn to warmer and drier […] Read more

File photo of a chickpea crop in India. (Nikhil Patil/iStock/Getty Images)

Pulse weekly outlook: World chickpea supplies expected tight over next six months

MarketsFarm — Chickpeas are expected to be in short supply around the world over the next six months, according to a release from the Global Pulse Confederation (GPC). Hot and dry weather in India cut production prospects for that country’s kabuli chickpea crop, according to the report. Production out of Mexico also failed to meet […] Read more


File photo of an irrigated alfalfa stand in Saudi Arabia. (JohnnyGreig/E+/Getty Images)

Saudi Arabia highly dependent on grain imports

Alfalfa more profitable for domestic growers

MarketsFarm — While Saudi Arabia is a giant among the oil-producing countries of the world, the desert kingdom does produce small amounts of grain. With a population that’s about one million less than Canada’s, Saudi Arabia is extremely dependent on importing its grain from overseas. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) attaché in Riyadh explained […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Canola short position finally subsiding

CBOT wheat, corn also net short

MarketsFarm — After hitting the largest speculative short position in canola on record, managed money fund traders were finally covering those bearish bets in late March, according to the latest Commitments of Traders report from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). As of March 28, the net managed money short position in canola futures […] Read more