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

U.S. grains: Soybeans bounce on China trade hopes

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures recovered slightly on Monday from steep declines in the previous session as hopes for improved exports to China outweighed worries about rising tensions in the Middle East. Corn and wheat futures declined on technical selling and profit-taking from last week’s multi-month highs and as investors look ahead to

(CGC video screengrab via YouTube)

Year in Review: Expect CGC to be under policy microscope in 2020

KAP doesn't want farmer protections or grain quality undermined

Expect more discussion about the Canadian Grain Commission’s (CGC) role and the Canada Grain Act in 2020. That could lead to legislative changes with implications for farmers, grain companies and Canada’s grain customers. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada started reviewing the CGC and the grain act last March. “Ultimately our goal is to have a set



The Year in Doggerel: 20-20 Foresight

The Year in Doggerel: 20-20 Foresight

As you may know, in each year’s first edition We follow a time-honoured farm writer’s tradition Of reviewing the past year in doggerel (that’s badly rhymed text) And giving you fearless predictions on what to expect for the next Since she’s in charge, I hesitate to criticize Mother Nature’s decisions But I wish she could


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

U.S. grains: Wheat, soy hit 2018 highs

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. grain and soybean futures hit 2018 highs to start the new year as traders continued to expect increased Chinese demand once Washington and Beijing ink an initial trade deal. The gains on Thursday extended annual advances from 2019, a year marked by farmer stress over the U.S.-China trade war and

Year in review: How did 2019’s weather measure up?

The short answer is that the year just past was cooler and drier than average

As we pass the end of another calendar year, it is time to take a look back at the past year’s weather to see how everything added up. Before I zoom into Manitoba, let’s take a quick look at the global picture. November’s global temperature numbers have just been released and three of the five



Flea beetles were aggressive feeders in 2019, leading to multiple spray passes for some farmers.

Year in review: Keep an eye out for these critters in 2020

Entomologist John Gavloski says these should be on your radar

Based on what went on in Manitoba fields this past season, producers may want to be on the lookout for several insects in 2020 that could potentially make a reappearance. At the top of the list are flea beetles, cutworms and grasshoppers, according to Manitoba’s provincial entomologist, John Gavloski. Speaking at the recent Manitoba Agronomists


(File photo by Dave Bedard)

CN, CP come in under 2018-19 grain revenue caps

Changes to federal rail transport rules that took effect in 2018 have put Canada’s big two railways well under their new Prairie grain revenue caps for the 2018-19 crop year. The Canadian Transportation Agency on Monday announced Canadian National Railway (CN) booked 2018-19 Prairie grain revenue of $933,357,710, a figure $371,116 below what the CTA