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Pulse weekly outlook: Increased demand seen, but problems loom

MarketsFarm — Unlike other commodities, pulses aren’t yet feeling ill effects from an economic downturn due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, according to Marcos Mosnaim of Globeways Canada in Mississauga. With consumers panic-buying, there has been increased demand for pulses, as many are non-perishable, Mosnaim said. “These products will be there for ages,” he said, […] Read more


File photo of piglets at a hog operation in China. (KuLouKu/iStock/Getty Images)

China encourages firms to raise pigs overseas

Officials aim to plug domestic pork shortage

Beijing | Reuters — China said Monday it is encouraging companies to build pig farms overseas to plug a severe domestic pork shortage after a worse-than-ever African swine fever slashed almost half of its pig herd. China has urged local authorities to support qualified domestic firms to “go out,” and build hog farming bases in […] Read more

CBOT May 2020 soybeans with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Virus worries, export sales drag on soybeans

Corn down on rising U.S. ethanol stocks

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures fell on Thursday on poor export demand coupled with declines in global equity markets tied to worries about an economic slowdown due to the COVID-19 coronavirus, analysts said. Corn followed soybeans lower while nearby Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures clung to modest gains, supported by inter-market spreading. […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

CN faces grain export backlog of 10,000 carloads, CEO says

Montreal | Reuters — Canadian National Railway (CN) lost capacity equivalent to 10,000 carloads, or one million tonnes of grain exports, in February due to rail blockades by protesters opposed to a pipeline project, CEO Jean-Jacques Ruest said Tuesday. Activists disrupted passenger and freight traffic last month to show solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en people, who […] Read more

File photo of young plants in a soybean field in Argentina. (Gracieross/iStock/Getty Images)

Argentina ag ministry suspends registration of exports

Buenos Aires | Reuters — Argentina’s ministry of agriculture suspended on Wednesday the registration of agricultural exports until further notice, it said in a statement, a move that traders said likely foreshadowed a steep increase in grains export tariffs. “When they close the registration, it’s because something is coming,” said agricultural consultant Nestor Roulet, secretary […] Read more


CBOT May 2020 soybeans with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybeans bounce, corn stabilizes

Warm winter, weaker Russian ruble drag on wheat

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures stabilized on Tuesday and soybean futures firmed in a mild recovery from the prior session’s steep drop on fears about the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. Wheat futures were mixed after posting fresh lows on technical selling and pressure from ample global supplies and stiff competition for U.S. […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Cattle inventories continue to decline, StatsCan says

Canada's hog herd also down on year

MarketsFarm — Canada’s cattle herd in 2019 continued on its generally consistent path of declining numbers, according to new data Statistics Canada released Tuesday. Aside from a few slight increases in 2012, 2013 and 2018, Canadian cattle inventories have moved lower since 2005. At 11.2 million head, the reported number of cattle on farms in […] Read more


MGEX March 2020 spring wheat with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat futures rally, pull corn higher

Chicago soybean futures weaken

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures surged 4.5 per cent on Tuesday, their biggest gain since May, as cuts to the harvest outlook in Australia bolstered prospects for U.S. exports, traders said. The rally in wheat, which closed near session highs as technical buyers entered the market after the early strength, underpinned the corn […] Read more

A CN freight train remains halted as train tracks are blocked two km away at Tyendinaga, Ont., east of Belleville, on Feb. 14, 2020. (Photo: Reuters/Chris Helgren)

Canada rules out sending police in on rail protests

Superior Propane expects supply shortages soon

Ottawa | Reuters — Canada’s Liberal government said on Friday it was deeply concerned about protests by aboriginal activists that are blocking some key railway lines but rejected a call to send in the police. Indigenous communities opposed to the construction of a gas pipeline project in British Columbia started interrupting rail traffic last week. […] Read more