(Flax Council of Canada photo)

Supply/demand pushing up flax prices

Corrected, Sept. 23 — MarketsFarm — Prices for flax have skyrocketed in 2021, as the amount to be harvested has fallen while demand has increased, according to Dale McManus of Johnston’s Seeds at Welwyn, Sask. Johnston’s was paying $38 per bushel for golden flax picked up off of the farm, he said, and brown flax […] Read more

(Qingwa/iStock/Getty Images)

USDA’s September supply/demand data contain few surprises

MarketsFarm — There was few, if any, surprises to be found for grain traders in the latest supply and demand report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The September world agriculture supply and demand estimates (WASDE) was pretty much stand-pat in terms of U.S. corn and soybeans, according to trader Andrew Mages of Progressive […] Read more

The USDA building in Washington, D.C. (Art Wager/iStock/Getty Images)

CBOT weekly outlook: ‘Tricky’ USDA report due Friday

MarketsFarm — With the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) set to issue its monthly supply and demand estimates (WASDE) on Friday, a broker said it will be a “tricky report.” That’s because of the impact Hurricane Ida had on the U.S. transportation system, according to Scott Capinegro of Barrington Commodities at Barrington, Ill. In particular, […] Read more

(Jennifer Blair photo)

Hemp industry looking forward despite hurdles

Industry 'on the edge of turning'

MarketsFarm — The number of hemp acres grown in Canada, of which more than 80 per cent are on the Prairies, have ebbed and flowed over the past few years. In 2018, 41,200 acres were planted, according to Statistics Canada, but the total more than doubled the next year to 91,100. In 2020, that number […] Read more

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Durum markets reckon with weather

'There was no wiggle room for a crop problem'

MarketsFarm — The higher temperatures soared and the longer between rains in Western Canada, the lower the yield projections for most crops — and drought-tolerant durum wheat is no exception. With bids already elevated due to a downturn in potential new-crop supply, the price of durum could rise even higher. “There’s not a lot of […] Read more


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USDA pegs wheat ending stocks to be lowest since 2013-14

MarketsFarm — As the U.S. northern Plains continue to deal with severe drought conditions, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has significantly lowered its 2021-22 ending stocks estimates for wheat — especially durum and spring wheat. According to USDA’s monthly world agriculture supply and demand estimates (WASDE) released Monday, 2021-22 ending stocks for wheat are […] Read more


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Hot weather cuts into Canadian mustard crop

Price increases already noted

MarketsFarm — Canada is looking at another small mustard crop in 2021, which should keep prices well supported for any unpriced crop, as recent heat stress cut into yields. “That was a very rough week,” said Walter Dyck, the Alberta-based general manager with Wisconsin mustard-processor Olds Products, on the late June/early July heat wave that […] Read more


CBOT December 2021 corn (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, dark green and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn futures retreat on profit-taking

Corn still up 12 per cent on week; traders adjust positions before July 4 weekend

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade corn futures retreated on profit-taking on Friday, while soybean futures extended gains fueled by lower-than-expected U.S. acreage estimates and dry weather in part of the Midwest, traders said. Corn pulled back after surging by the daily, exchange-imposed limit on Wednesday when the U.S. Department of Agriculture shocked […] Read more

CBOT November 2021 soybeans (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, green and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybeans, wheat fall

CBOT corn ends slightly firm

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean and wheat futures fell on Thursday while corn firmed slightly, with all three commodities closing well off their session peaks on a round of profit taking after rallying to their highest since mid-June, traders said. Forecasts for improving crop weather in the U.S. Midwest added pressure. CBOT November soybeans […] Read more