Mini-donuts, churros, beaver tails, rollkuchen, funnel cake, corndogs, French fries, even Mars bars — they all taste better when fried in oil. The summer festival season of fried food from food trucks is just getting underway, while the markets for the vegetable oils filling all those deep fryers have also been heating up. Soyoil Since
Veg oil markets bubble up from depths
Expert's Radar: Dry conditions lift futures well off recent lows
As with coffee, grain markets now a ground game
Expert's Radar: Official acreage estimates are still a couple of weeks away
A building at the end of my street has been under renovation for several months, with a new local coffee shop ‘coming soon,’ according to the signage. The building was formerly a vape store and before that an insurance brokerage, so there is plenty of work to be done to transform it into a café.
Bigger-picture influences hover around weather market
A decision on U.S. biofuel blending mandates is pending
I was recently at the dentist to deal with a cracked tooth. After the drilling and filling was complete, the freezing took a few hours to wear off, which left me in a state of uncertainty. Will I ever eat or speak properly again? Was everything fixed? Will it still hurt to bite on that
End of spring seeding adds bearish tone to grain markets
Plausible cases can now be made for canola to continue lower or turn higher
ICE Futures canola contracts fell hard in late May, hitting their weakest levels in more than two years on May 31 before uncovering some support to rise above those lows to start June. Where the market goes from here remains to be seen, as a case can be made for either more losses or a
Wheat crops look greener beyond North America’s fence
Expert's Radar: Longer-range Prairie weather outlooks suggest more hot and dry
In the microclimate of my Winnipeg yard, there are some sunny spots that are better for growing tomatoes and shadier areas where lettuce thrives. There’s one section around the compost bin overrun with raspberries that could use some trimming, but the fruit pairs well with the rhubarb along the fence. The garden is mostly in,
Cattle prices remain strong as sale volumes grind lower
Several yards will operate at a reduced pace over the summer
Activity at Manitoba’s cattle auction yards was subdued during the week ended May 26. The Victoria Day long weekend marks the unofficial start of summer and movement slows down for the season. Prices remained strong, especially for butcher cows, which accounted for most of the trade at some yards. “Butcher cows continue to hit new
Deal or no deal?
Expert's Radar: U.S. currency concerns can sway ag markets
In the TV game show Deal or No Deal, contestants pick briefcases in hopes of winning big cash prizes. The rules are simple, with an unseen ‘banker’ offering deals as the contents of the cases are slowly revealed. Will the contestant take a deal? Or will they risk it all by opening more cases in
Grain traders cover some risk as planting continues
Canola contracts show strength independent of other oilseeds
North American grain and oilseed contracts saw choppy activity during the second week of May, moving up and down as the growing season for most crops got underway and traders looked to cover some risk in the face of uncertainty. For its part, the ICE Futures canola market showed independent strength relative to other vegetable
Lessons from a journey
Expert’s Radar: When embarking on an adventure — like growing a crop — taking things in stride is key
People who embark on lengthy cross-country journeys have always intrigued and inspired me. It takes a certain kind of dedication. I had a poster of “Man in Motion” Rick Hansen on my wall as a child and Terry Fox is obviously a legendary hero to all of Canada, but there are countless folks every year
Survey says…
The numbers we’re seeing may need an asterisk, for various reasons
Back in my university days, I had a part-time job conducting market research surveys on evenings and weekends. “On a scale of one to seven, how satisfied are you with the flavour of x-brand toothpaste?” or “In the past month, have you heard any beer ads on the radio?” That kind of thing. It could
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
