(Dave Bedard photo)

Saskatchewan forage rainfall insurance to adjust for hot spells

SCIC also expanding crop roster for contract price option

Saskatchewan forage and corn growers whose crops are insured against below-normal rainfall can expect a beneficial bump starting this year if those crops get cooked in high heat. The Saskatchewan and federal governments on Tuesday announced details for their 2022 crop insurance program — under which average coverage is expected to reach $405 per acre, […] Read more


ICE November 2021 canola (candlesticks) with 20-day moving average (yellow line) and CBOT December 2021 soyoil (green line, left column). (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: Swings ahead for canola

MarketsFarm — If anything is certain for canola values, it’s that they are going to be swingy for the next while, according to Ken Ball of PI Financial in Winnipeg. Canola bids, especially new-crop, have been on the downswing lately, largely due to precipitation the Prairies recently received. While the resulting moisture won’t rectify the […] Read more



CBOT July 2021 corn (candlesticks) with 20-day moving average (yellow line) and December 2021 corn (orange high/low/close). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn sinks to one-month low on weather, technical selling

Soybeans, wheat follow corn lower

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures tumbled to a one-month low on Tuesday as timely spring planting and beneficial rains across most of the Midwest boosted crop prospects. Losses accelerated as corn prices fell below recent lows and breached other technical chart support levels. Soybeans and wheat also dropped on stronger harvest prospects as […] Read more

CBOT March 2021 soybeans with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybeans dive to biggest weekly loss in 6-1/2 years

Soy, corn tumble on improved weather; wheat extends fall

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybean futures slid more than four per cent on Friday — while corn futures dropped their daily limit — as rains in key South American growing areas offered relief amid tight global supplies, overshadowing strong weekly U.S. export data. Wheat futures tumbled four per cent. The Chicago Board of Trade […] Read more


CBOT March 2021 soybeans with 20-, 30- and 50-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybeans fall on South American rainfall

Russian export tax supports U.S. wheat; corn follows soybeans

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybean futures slid on Tuesday as rain across South America strengthened crop prospects and bolstered the global supply outlook, traders said. Corn followed soybeans lower, but was supported by strong export demand and possible export limits in Ukraine. Wheat futures fell slightly, but were bolstered by an export tax in […] Read more

CBOT March 2021 soybeans with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Futures slip on South American rains

USDA report seen cutting U.S. soy, corn supply estimates

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures slipped from 6-1/2-year highs on Monday on crop-boosting rains in South America and as investors squared positions ahead of eagerly awaited U.S. government crop forecast data due on Tuesday. Corn and wheat futures also pulled back from multi-year peaks posted last week as the U.S. dollar firmed and […] Read more


CBOT March 2021 wheat with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soy futures sag on improving Brazil weather

CBOT March wheat rallies

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures dipped to a 2-1/2 week low on Wednesday as forecasts for much-needed rains in portions of Brazil’s crop area prompted a round of long liquidation and profit-taking, traders said. Wheat futures rose, rebounding on bargain buying a day after the benchmark Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) March contract […] Read more

The slough next to my farmyard July 29, 2013. See below how it looks seven years later.

Les Henry: New information on the water table and crop yields

Sloughs do tell a story about water tables

In recent years, this column has talked a lot about higher water tables and the role they play in harvesting good crops on years with low rainfall. The United States has maintained the system of land grant universities that are directly tied to the land and deal primarily with research that has a bang at […] Read more