Much like a summer storm hitting one field and leaving another dry only a few miles down the road, markets could go either way right now.

Rolling the dice on forecasts

Expert's Radar: Definite market directions are hard to pin down

A severe weather system rolling across the Prairies triggered an alert on my phone the other day. Television and radio programs also interrupted with warnings to take precautions. The sun was still shining at the time, but the rumble of thunder from the approaching storm could easily be heard. My location caught only the edge


(File photo by Dave Bedard)

Fund long position holds steady in canola

Net long in CBOT soybeans down on week

MarketsFarm — The managed money long position in canola held relatively steady during the week ended Aug. 8, according to the latest Commitments of Traders report from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). As of Aug. 8, the net managed money long position in canola futures came in at 23,753 contracts (49,339 long, 25,856

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Little change seen in USDA’s WASDE report

U.S. corn, soy, wheat production figures down from July report

MarketsFarm — August figures from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) world agricultural supply/demand estimates (WASDE) provided very few surprises and not much change after their release Friday. However, crop production and carryout estimates were tightened from those in July. USDA’s 2023-24 corn production estimate declined by 209 million bushels from July to 15.111 billion,


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

U.S. grains: Soybean, grains futures drop as traders shed risk

Corn, soy harvests set to be smaller than expected

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybean and grain futures turned lower on Friday as improving growing weather led investors to anticipate that U.S. Midwest crop conditions will improve, traders said. Corn and soybean futures had a particularly choppy trading session as a flurry of bearish signs prompted investors to shed risks at the end of

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

U.S. grains: Corn, wheat firm ahead of USDA report

CBOT soybeans end mixed

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade corn and wheat futures firmed on Thursday, with traders unwinding bearish bets ahead of a key U.S. government report on supply and demand on Friday. The soybean market was mixed, with thinly traded old-crop contracts easing and new-crop contracts firming as investors adjusted positions ahead of the


Canola falls in pre-harvest wait

Canola falls in pre-harvest wait

Weather conditions batter against speculation, demand lull

ICE Futures canola contracts moved lower as the calendar flipped to the new 2023-24 crop year, but managed to uncover support in the early days of August. While Prairie weather remains a major market driver, speculative positioning and a lack of significant commercial demand weighed on values. November canola fell below its 20-day moving average

ICE November 2023 canola with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: Canola prices ‘cheap’ but rangebound

Trade also watching U.S. soy complex

MarketsFarm — ICE Futures canola contracts held relatively rangebound during the week ended Wednesday, in choppy activity as traders wait to get a clearer picture on the size of this year’s crop. “Overall, canola is relatively cheap,” said Ken Ball of PI Financial in Winnipeg. He pointed to wide crush margins — over $200 per


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CBOT weekly outlook: Few changes expected in coming U.S. reports

Trade's expectations already factored into prices

MarketsFarm — Soybeans may see significant changes in new-crop carryout numbers when the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) releases several key reports Friday, but corn and wheat estimates will likely stay put for the most part, according to one analyst. USDA releases both its crop production report and its monthly world agricultural supply/demand estimates (WASDE)

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

U.S. grains: Soy futures rise, wheat drops

Traders adjust positions ahead of USDA report due Friday

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures rose on Wednesday on improving U.S. export demand and as the market recovered from a one-month low reached in the previous session, analysts said. Corn and wheat futures declined. Exporters sold 251,000 metric tonnes of U.S. soy to China, the largest buyer of the oilseed,