MarketsFarm — The window of opportunity for Canadian pulses to be exported to India may rapidly be closing, according to a recent announcement from India’s agriculture minister. At a World Pulses Day event on Monday, Narendra Singh Tomar said the country is on track to self-sufficiency. Last year, the country consumed about 27 million tonnes […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: India aims to boost production
Strong export demand, acreage ahead for barley
Lower supplies from Australia benefit Canadian growers
MarketsFarm — Canadian malting barley acreage is expected to remain high in the coming year, mostly due to strong export demand. Peter Watts, managing director of the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Center in Winnipeg, said tough harvest conditions were partially to blame for lowered malt barley output in 2019. “We had a fairly lousy harvest, […] Read more
CBOT weekly outlook: Corn, soybeans under pressure
MarketsFarm — Market participants on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) are waiting to see how China’s novel coronavirus outbreak will impact commodity demand and the global economy. As of Wednesday, confirmed cases neared 25,000 and the death toll was close to 500. In the midst of dealing with the mounting public health crisis, China […] Read more
Machinery costs driving up fixed farming expenses
MarketsFarm — Fixed costs on farms continue to rise year-over-year, a statistic largely attributed to increasing land values and interest rates. At the beginning of 2019, Farm Credit Canada (FCC) reported farmland values across Canada increased by an average of 6.6 per cent during the previous year. But that’s not the main driver of fixed […] Read more
ICE weekly outlook: Canola values steady after losses
Weaker loonie supportive for canola
MarketsFarm — Canola prices started the week plagued by reports of the rapidly-spreading coronavirus in China, but managed to shake off some of that resistance. At midweek, nearby ICE Futures canola contracts were between $461 and $470, after falling by over $8 on Monday. Crush margins have maintained strength, which supported canola values. Crush margins […] Read more
High stocks-to-use ratio weighs on canola
MarketsFarm — The Canadian canola stocks-to-use ratio was over 20 per cent at the end of 2019 — significantly higher than the five-year average of 13.4 per cent. “That’s part of the reason why we’re seeing downward pressure on canola prices,” Craig Klemmer, chief agriculture economist for Farm Credit Canada (FCC), explained during his presentation […] Read more
Rising protein demand expected in 2020
Canada able to serve both plant- and animal-based protein markets
MarketsFarm — Demand for plant- and animal-based proteins alike is likely to increase in the coming year. Since 2017, pea protein demand increased by about 13 per cent, Craig Klemmer, chief agriculture economist at Farm Credit Canada, said at Ag Days in Brandon, Man. Over the same time period, demand for canola protein increased by […] Read more
Favourable growing conditions forecast for major ag regions
MarketsFarm — Canadian producers looking for challenging growing conditions elsewhere in the world to prop up commodity prices may be disappointed during the 2020 growing season. South America “If you’re looking for any help from South America for your canola or soybeans or corn, you’d better look somewhere else,” Drew Lerner, president of World Weather […] Read more
Improving global ag trade may not favour Canada
MarketsFarm — When it comes to improving global trade relations, a rising tide may not lift all boats. In the recently-signed Phase One trade deal between the U.S. and China, Beijing pledged to significantly increase Chinese purchases of U.S. soybeans and other agriculture goods. “Where does that leave room for Canada, given the demand side […] Read more
CBOT weekly outlook: Corn set to rally
MarketsFarm — Corn futures on the Chicago Board of Trade may be due for a rally. The March corn contract hit $3.92 per bushel three times earlier in the month, facing stiff resistance to break higher (all figures US$). Prices established lows last week, around $3.7525. “I would like to see resistance be taken to […] Read more
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