Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybeans firmed on Wednesday in a light technical rebound one day after the U.S. Department of Agriculture surprised analysts by raising its estimates of the U.S. corn and soybean yields. Corn futures ended flat while wheat was modestly higher, paring gains after the Chicago Board of Trade December contract hit […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soy steadies after tumbling on higher crop estimate
U.S. grains: Corn falls after USDA raises yield estimate
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago corn futures fell 1.7 per cent on Tuesday, the biggest drop for a most-active contract in nearly a month, after the U.S. Department of Agriculture raised its 2017 corn yield forecast, bucking most trade expectations for a reduction. Soybean futures fell after the USDA surprised analysts by hiking its U.S. […] Read more
Baltic Dry Index hits three-year highs
CNS Canada — The Baltic Dry Index has seen some strength over the past two months, rising to its highest levels in nearly three years. The BDI settled Monday at 1,355 points, having gained roughly 500 points over the past two months. The index was last this high in November 2014. The BDI is compiled […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat lower on hefty global stocks
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures dipped to a one-week low on Monday as swelling harvest supplies in the Black Sea export region hung over a subdued market a day ahead of closely watched U.S. government crop forecasts. Soybean futures also declined, while corn edged higher in choppy trade. Chicago Board of Trade December […] Read more
Canada’s antitrust watchdog clears Nutrien merger
Canada’s Competition Bureau will put up no reasons why PotashCorp and Agrium shouldn’t be joined in Nutrien. The federal antitrust regulator on Monday issued a “no action” letter on the all-stock merger-of-equals that Saskatoon’s PotashCorp and Calgary’s Agrium proposed in September last year. The two companies, when merged, are to be headquartered in Saskatoon under […] Read more
Canada’s soils still degrading, albeit more slowly
The rate of degradation of soils in Canada has slowed, but it still is happening at a significant rate and there is still a lot to learn. There are no soil-perfect systems yet for crop production, attendees at the Summit on Canadian Soil Health held recently in Guelph heard repeatedly. No-till farming has declined in […] Read more
Feds step in to restore rail service to Churchill
CNS Canada — The federal government says it’s prepared to restore rail service to Hudson Bay at Churchill, Man. The Hudson Bay Railway, running from The Pas to Churchill, was closed in the spring of 2017 after flooding damaged multiple sections of the route to the northern Manitoba community. U.S. rail operator OmniTrax, the line’s […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn, wheat post small gains
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn and wheat futures firmed slightly on Friday, supported by a round of end-of-week bargain buying after posting sharp declines on Thursday, traders said. Soybeans weakened on technical pressure after the market threatened, but failed to break through a four-week high hit on Thursday. Strong export demand limited the declines. […] Read more
Farmers to deal with stronger loonie for rest of 2017
CNS Canada — Higher interest rates and a stronger Canadian dollar relative to U.S. currency is giving Canadian farmers a double whammy. According to Farm Credit Canada’s chief agricultural economist, it’s also a situation farmers will likely have to deal with for at least the remainder of the year. J.P. Gervais said he thinks farmers […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn, soybean, wheat futures weaken
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures on Thursday sagged 1.7 per cent on technical selling and expectations of a U.S. bumper harvest that would enlarge the already massive global supply of the grain, traders said. Wheat and soybean futures also posted lower closes. Wheat faced pressure from weak worldwide demand for U.S. supplies and […] Read more
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