Extreme weather events are increasingly commonly being blamed on climate change, but how much of that is real, and how much is hot air?

Pummelled by hail: The onslaught of erratic weather is real

Extreme weather events are increasingly commonly being blamed on climate change, but how much of that is real, and how much is hot air?

If farmers think the weather was erratic this year, data says they’re right. Earlier this summer, the Co-operator reported that farmers in the Rivers area were pummeled with near-apocalyptic hail. Weeks later, they’d been hit again. At the time, hail claims in Manitoba had already exceeded the total number of claims last year. Why it

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

CBOT weekly outlook: Poor crop ratings keep soy, corn supported

Major changes not expected in next WASDE

MarketsFarm — Hot and dry weather conditions cutting into crop ratings for soybeans and corn in the U.S. could see prices for both crops rise above nearby chart resistance levels, although the looming harvest may temper the upside potential. Both soybeans and corn were rated 53 per cent good-to-excellent in the latest weekly crop report


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

U.S. grains: Soy futures jump as heat, dryness hurt crop more than expected

USDA rates soy, corn crops least good-to-excellent since 2012

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures jumped on Wednesday after weekly U.S. government data showed crop conditions deteriorated more than expected during hot, dry weather. Reduced crop ratings fuelled expectations among traders that the U.S. Department of Agriculture may cut its yield forecast in a monthly report due next week. USDA

(File photo by Dave Bedard)

Fund long position edges higher in canola

Net long in CBOT soybeans down on week

MarketsFarm — The managed money long position in canola edged slightly higher during the week ended Aug. 29, according to the latest Commitments of Traders report from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). As of Aug. 29, 2023, the net managed money long position in canola futures came in at 13,904 contracts (41,949 long,


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

U.S. grains: Wheat up off three-month low as Australian crop declines

U.S. corn, soy crop ratings fall more than expected

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures edged higher on Tuesday, after hitting a three-month low, amid short covering and concerns about dry weather threatening production in export hubs including Australia. Corn futures also rose, while the soybean market eased as traders awaited the start of U.S. harvesting. After the markets closed,

Manitoba harvest ahead of five-year average, canola conditions seen mostly fair to good

Manitoba harvest ahead of five-year average, canola conditions seen mostly fair to good

Manitoba Crop Report: Issue 17 (week 36)

Overview  Harvest progress sits at 37 per cent complete across the province, which is ahead of the 5-year average (31 per cent). Winter wheat and fall rye harvest is complete (100 per cent). Yield reports are averaging about 60 bu/acre for winter wheat and 70 bu/acre for fall rye. Harvest continues in spring cereal crops,


Barry Janssens was among the producers worried about encroaching water levels from Whitewater Lake in 2020.

Sweet and salty: Using sweet clover to fight salinity

Producers use salt-tolerant forage to claw back productivity on previously flooded land

East of Deloraine, in the far southwestern corner of Manitoba, waves of yellow sweet clover are reclaiming farmland that, three years ago, was under the waves of Whitewater Lake. A road runs near the field planted with the legume, a raised snake of land that, in 2019, would have been surrounded by water. In August,

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder market shrugs off lower barley production

Barley exports, domestic demand expected to be reduced

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $2-$3/cwt on either side of unchanged. Prices for calves were also unchanged from average values seven days earlier. Calf markets are becoming more defined as volumes increase. There also appeared to be larger volume of high-quality yearlings available, which was a surprise. The drought hasn’t significantly


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

U.S. grains: Wheat dips after earlier strength

Black Sea supplies weigh on market

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat prices reversed earlier gains to close lower on Friday, as markets weighed tight global stocks against the prospect of hefty Russian wheat production and efforts to renew a Black Sea grain deal. Chicago soybeans and corn also climbed after month-end positioning pushed futures lower much of the week and