Pulse Canada CEO Gordon Bacon. (File photo)

Pulse weekly outlook: Pulse Canada CEO retiring

MarketsFarm — After nearly 24 years at the helm of Pulse Canada, Gordon Bacon is retiring as the organization’s chief executive officer. Bacon was Pulse Canada’s first hire and has been its CEO since its inception. “It sounds like a story, but on my first day on the job, I went out and bought a […] Read more

(Qingwa/iStock/Getty Images)

CBOT weekly outlook: U.S. supply and demand report stands pat

MarketsFarm — Expected changes to ending stocks for soybeans, corn and wheat did not occur in the latest supply and demand report Tuesday from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Rather, the department held onto its February projections. “I’m disappointed [the USDA] didn’t adjust anything. I’m not saying they didn’t do their homework. I’m just […] Read more


WGEA executive director Wade Sobkowich. (Manitoba Co-operator photo by Allan Dawson)

Railways to blame for terminal shortages, WGEA says

Grain handlers take issue with MarketsFarm report

MarketsFarm — The association representing the Prairies’ main grain handling companies says recent delays in loading vessels have less to do with the availability of grain and more to do with the railways hauling it to port. The Western Grain Elevator Association (WGEA), which represents major handlers such as Viterra, Richardson, Cargill and others, raised […] Read more

ICE May 2021 canola with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: Canola back where it started

Day-to-day movements seen as tough to predict

MarketsFarm — ICE canola futures are pretty much back where they were a week ago after losing ground, only to recover by small — and then strong — gains. The May canola contract finished at $765.20 per tonne on Friday and closed Wednesday at $767.30. In between, the lowest close for May was $735.20. That […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Barley, wheat at par in Alberta

Demand also seen for heated canola

MarketsFarm — Prices for feed barley and wheat are running about the same, from where Susanne Leclerc sits at Market Master Ltd. in Edmonton. Barley and wheat going into central Alberta were both running at $315 per tonne, she said. “We’re seeing buyer strength gaining coverage for the summer,” she said, but noted trading activity […] Read more


File photo of the Prince Rupert Grain Terminal. (Dan_prat/iStock/Getty Images)

Grain shortage, cold snap cause delays at West Coast ports

'...the vessels continue to arrive'

MarketsFarm — Grain movement in Western Canada remains faced with significant difficulties, according to Mark Hemmes, president of Quorum Corp., which monitors rail traffic and vessel movements in Canada. February’s cold snap resulted in grain movement across the region falling below its three-year average. The most pressing issue has been a shortage of grain to […] Read more

Red lentils. (Photo courtesy U.S. Dry Pea and Lentil Council)

Pulse weekly outlook: Lentil prices increase

MarketsFarm — Lentil prices have been increasing over the last week, making gains of one to five cents per pound depending on the type, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire. “There’s a huge demand on everything right now. The lentil market is strong just like the yellow peas,” Allan Johnston, president of Johnston Grains at Welwyn, […] Read more



An ammonia and nitrogen fertilizer plant in Russia. (Saoirse_2010/iStock/Getty Images)

High fertilizer prices likely to climb more

MarketsFarm — Expect fertilizer prices to resume increasing, despite having fallen back recently. Prices began their sharp rise around the middle of December and beginning of January. “They will go higher as demand goes up at seeding time,” Mike Jubinville of MarketsFarm Pro in Winnipeg said. Jubinville reported urea prices have jumped $100 per tonne […] Read more

Detail from the front of the CBOT building in Chicago. (Vito Palmisano/iStock/Getty Images)

CBOT weekly outlook: WASDE unexpectedly bearish for corn

MarketsFarm — Corn prices on the Chicago Board of Trade immediately turned sour after Tuesday’s release of the monthly supply and demand report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. By the time trading closed for the day, soybeans had recovered from losses incurred shortly after the report’s release to finish in double-digits on the plus […] Read more