ICE July 2019 canola (candlestick chart) compared to CBOT July 2019 corn (line). (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: All eyes on King Corn

MarketsFarm — ICE Futures canola contracts trended lower over the past two weeks and could have some more room to the downside before eventually returning higher with summer weather markets and expected strength in Chicago corn futures. The November canola contract settled at $450.40 per tonne on Wednesday. The contract could have another $5-$10 to



Excessive rain in parts of the Midwestern U.S. has put the brakes on many farmers' planting plans.

Comment: ‘A lick and a promise’ aren’t enough

It’s one of the worst seeding seasons in memory for Midwestern U.S. farmers and their government isn’t helping

Most American farmers spent the last week of May and the first week of June either driving through mud or stuck in it. Their two farming partners, Mother Nature and Uncle Sam, were little help; one brought threats of more rain and mud, the other threats of more tariffs and bailouts. Farmers in my neighbourhood,



Dry weather sees slow crop growth, flea beetles active across Manitoba

Manitoba Crop Report and Crop Weather report for June 4

Southwest region Little to no rainfall over past week continues to be the major issue in the region. Rain came through the region June 3, however, amounts were low with most areas reporting 3 to 10 mm, with some spotty thunderstorms producing higher amounts. With dry conditions, emergence of later seeded and reseeded crops has

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Weather buoys grain prices

MarketsFarm –– A dry spring on the Prairies, coupled with intensely wet weather south of the border, has frustrated producers and supported higher feed grain prices. Barley prices have rallied “quite strongly” due to dry weather observed across most of the Prairies, combined with tight supplies from previous years, said Nelson Neumann of Agfinity in


CBOT July 2019 corn with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soy futures extend rally

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures rose 1.6 per cent on Wednesday, hitting their highest since mid-April on support from concerns that planting delays in the U.S. Midwest will lead to a sharp cutback in acreage as well as harvest yields, traders said. The jump followed a U.S. Agriculture Department report after the market

Precipitation percentiles on the Prairies for the period of April 1 to May 23, 2019. (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Drought Watch)

Prairie dryness concerns to persist

MarketsFarm — Large areas of Western Canada remain on the dry side, with little moisture in the immediate forecasts. And while it’s still early in the growing season, the interplay of conflicting patterns from the south and north will determine whether the dry areas receive timely precipitation during the growing season. “We are looking at


Beating the heat on seed-placed fertilizer

Beating the heat on seed-placed fertilizer

Lack of soil moisture may give pause when it comes to hot seedbeds

Farmers are being reminded to watch their seed-placed fertilizer rates if they want to avoid burning off profits. Placing phosphate with soybeans has not typically given a yield response, according to Dennis Lange, provincial pulse specialist. He urged farmers to monitor their soil phosphorus and determine whether they should be drawing down, maintaining or building

Dust flies behind a farmer’s harrows just east of Winnipeg on May 14, 2019.

Seeding on schedule but dry conditions concern

Pasture lands and forage crops are struggling to emerge because of cool, dry conditions

After an early start, followed by weather delays, seeding progression is on par with average, according to Manitoba Agriculture. “Last Saturday I got burned by the weatherman,” said Morris-area farmer Rolf Penner on May 14. He expected a storm, so he stayed parked. When rain barely materialized, he was left feeling behind schedule. Still, Penner