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

Pulse weekly outlook: Feed peas in short supply

Some feeders substituting soymeal

MarketsFarm — Hot and dry growing conditions cut into Canada’s pea production in 2021-22 — but the quality was relatively good, which means feed peas are in even shorter supply. “Yields were low across the harvest this year, but I’d say quality was quite good on yellow and green peas,” said a feed pea merchant. […] Read more

CBOT March 2022 wheat (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat extends slide as Omicron worries mount

Corn, soybeans also slip on virus fears

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago wheat prices fell to a nearly three-week low on Tuesday, as concerns that the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant could slow the global economy drove investors to reduce risk exposure. The entire grains complex felt pressure early in the session, after Moderna’s CEO cautioned that COVID-19 shots were unlikely […] Read more


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

U.S. grains: Wheat drops as U.S. dollar edges higher

Australia forecasts record wheat crop; corn, soy down on good South America weather

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures retreated on Monday on a firmer dollar and as a record harvest outlook from major exporter Australia eased recent concerns about rain-damaged crops. Corn and soybeans followed wheat lower, pressured by technical selling and profit-taking and by good weekend rains in Argentina and parts of Brazil. Chicago Board […] Read more

(Thinkstock photo)

Prairie cash wheat: Red springs rising, durum retreats

U.S. wheat futures up on week

MarketsFarm — Cash bids on the Prairies climbed higher for Canada Western Red Spring Wheat (CWRS) and Canada Prairie Spring Red (CPSR) wheats, but those for Canada Western Amber Durum (CWAD) incurred sharp decreases. Gains in most U.S. wheat markets led to the increases on the Prairies, which were also aided by a weaker Canadian […] Read more


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

U.S. grains: New COVID variant scares markets

Soybeans, wheat drop; corn rebounds

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures fell Friday as news of a new COVID-19 variant discovered in South Africa sent oil and equities markets lower, with moves exaggerated by low trade volume across the grain and oilseed commodities. Chicago Board of Trade January soybeans lost 13-3/4 cents, at $12.52-3/4 a bushel, the contracts biggest […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Prairie grains remain firm

Transport issues slow U.S. corn flow

MarketsFarm — Feed grain prices in Western Canada remain strong in late November, although looming corn imports from the U.S. should keep a lid on the upside. Feed barley in Alberta is currently topping out at $9.78 per bushel, with feed wheat above $12 in some cases, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire. Those prices remain […] Read more


Conservative agriculture critic John Barlow speaks Nov. 24, 2021 in the House of Commons. (Screengrab from supplied video)

End date sought for P.E.I. potato export ban

A ban from Washington would be harder to reverse, Liberals say

The federal Conservatives want to see a clearly defined end zone for the Canadian government’s suspension of Prince Edward Island potato exports to the U.S. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Monday announced the suspension of certification for P.E.I. potato exports to the U.S., — a move which, according to federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau, […] Read more

ICE January 2022 canola (candlesticks) with March 2022 (green line) and November 2022 canola (yellow line, left column). (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: Canola market strong but choppy

MarketsFarm — Nearby ICE Futures canola contracts climbed to fresh highs during the week ended Wednesday, while= deferred months moved lower. The new-crop November 2022 contract had overshot to the upside and was due for a correction, said Keith Ferley of RBC Dominion Securities in Winnipeg. Any weakness would likely be met by commercial buying, […] Read more


CF Industries’ UAN plant at Donaldsonville in Louisiana. The company also makes UAN at plants in Ontario, Iowa and Oklahoma. (Thyssenkrupp-industrial-solutions.com)

Fertilizer shortage may lead to spring scramble

'It's next year's prices I'm worried about'

Reuters — A global shortage of nitrogen fertilizer is driving prices to record levels, prompting North America’s farmers to delay purchases and raising the risk of a spring scramble to apply the crop nutrient before planting season. The Texas Arctic Blast in February and Hurricane Ida in August disrupted U.S. fertilizer production. Then, prices of […] Read more