Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures declined on Monday on favourable crop weather in South America and position-squaring as traders waited to see if a U.S.-Chinese trade agreement due to be signed this week will herald a significant increase in demand for U.S. crops. Wheat futures also fell, down from multi-month highs set last […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soy declines, corn firms as China deal’s terms awaited

Prairie cash wheat: Depending on variety, bids a mixed bag
MarketsFarm — Wheat bids in Western Canada varied for the week ended Thursday. Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat was mixed, while Canada Prairie Spring Red (CPSR) was stronger, and durum (CWAD) steady to slightly higher. The Canadian dollar lost about a half cent during the week. Average CWRS (13.5 per cent protein) wheat prices […] Read more

Ag equipment maker Morris in creditor protection
Downsizing and staff cuts lie ahead for well known Prairie farm equipment maker Morris Industries as the company enters creditor protection due to a “liquidity crisis.” The Court of Queen’s Bench in Saskatoon on Wednesday approved the Morris Group’s Jan. 3 application, which stays any proceedings or actions against the company until Jan. 18 at […] Read more

U.S. grains: Corn, soy shrug off benign USDA data
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn and soybeans were steady to higher on Friday as investors looked past revised U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) supply-and-demand projections and focused on improved prospects for exports to China, which is due to sign an interim trade deal with the United States next week. The USDA data, released during […] Read more

Fraser: The case against carbon pricing for farmers
The federal government continues to suggest the carbon tax imposed on Prairie farmers is necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and may not be causing undue harm to the country’s agricultural sector. Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau speaks publicly about “special considerations” for farmers, while at the same time openly questioning carbon pricing’s effect on their […] Read more

U.S. grains: Wheat up, corn and soy down awaiting USDA data
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures jumped on Thursday in a rebound from the market’s recent slide and soybeans and corn eased as investors squared positions ahead of an eagerly awaited U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) supply-and-demand report due on Friday. Rising global prices and forecasts for reduced U.S. plantings this season gave wheat […] Read more

Prairie provinces react to Bibeau’s questions on carbon price impact
Ottawa — The Saskatchewan and Manitoba governments continue attempts to convince the federal government’s carbon pricing program puts farmers at a disadvantage. Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau recently suggested the carbon pricing system may not be disadvantaging farmers, questioning the impact of carbon pricing on agriculture, but saying she will continue to seek out more […] Read more

Deere bets on cost cuts, services push to boost profits
Chicago | Reuters — Deere and Co. on Wednesday said it will cut costs and ramp up investment in data-driven agriculture technology and its services business to make itself more profitable. In a pitch to investors, CEO John May said the measures are expected to boost operating profit margin to 15 per cent by 2022 […] Read more

U.S. grains: Prices narrowly mixed as traders assess Mideast risk
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybean and grain futures were narrowly mixed on Wednesday as traders’ jitters eased after Iran and the United States signalled a de-escalation of tensions after an Iranian missile attack against U.S. forces in Iraq. Investors also continued to square positions ahead of a key U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) crop […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soybeans slide as rain boosts South American crops
Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. soybean futures ended mostly lower on Tuesday on crop-boosting rains in South America and as investors squared positions ahead of a key U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) crop report due on Friday, although short-covering trimmed losses late in the session. Corn and wheat futures were mostly flat as late-session short […] Read more