Ken Mitchell, an Annan area crop and beef farmer, shares some of the insights SWAT mapping, seen in the distance, provided in addressing uneven growing conditions in his corn and alfalfa fields during the Grey County Soil and Crop Improvement Association July crop tour.

A soil health investigation

It took old and new technology to diagnose compaction as the culprit

The soil on Ken Mitchell’s alfalfa and corn fields looked good on paper but the reality was less than stellar in terms of production. The 100-acre block was the focus of the Grey County Soil and Crop Improvement Association crop tour in late July. It looked at how marrying new technology with tried-and-true soil assessment […] Read more

CBOT December 2023 corn with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn, soybean futures firm

Chicago wheat weak on demand view

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean and corn futures edged higher on Tuesday, recovering from early weakness as investors covered short positions ahead of a key U.S. government crop outlook on Friday, traders said. Wheat futures dipped, with concerns about weak demand for U.S. supplies weighing on the market after Egypt booked another deal for […] Read more

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

U.S. grains: wheat firms on Russian port attack, India import prospects

Attack near grain hub heightens war risks to Black Sea trade

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago wheat climbed on Friday after a Ukrainian drone attack near a Russian Black Sea export hub, rekindling global supply fears while India raised demand expectations as it considers scrapping wheat tariffs. Soybeans climbed on stronger crude and vegetable oil markets, also on alert following the Black Sea disruptions. Corn followed […] Read more

Cover crop biomass harvested from a 0.25m2 area for tissue analysis.

Managing cover crop nitrogen, residue breakdown

OMAFRA Field Crop Report for the week of July 31

Across Ontario, wheat harvest continues, opening the best window for planting cover crops in most field crop rotations. You can find more information on the  2023 winter wheat quality update and achieving success with cover crops after wheat at fieldcropnews.com. But can those cover crops be managed to supply nitrogen to the next crop? The amount of nitrogen […] Read more

Wheat growers need to be strategic sellers in 2023 and 2024 as global instability could create opportunities.

Timely rain and heat boost Ontario crop estimates

Declining U.S. crop quality could mean opportunities for Ontario growers in 2024

From June 22 through July 21, the Ontario growing region received 150 to 200 per cent of normal precipitation. Certain regions north of Windsor and north of Toronto received more than 200 per cent of normal rainfall. During the same 30-day period, temperatures were 2-3 degrees C cooler than normal west and south of Toronto. […] Read more


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

U.S. grains: wheat falls after Ukraine port attack renews worries

Russian attack Wednesday underscored the risk of a further squeeze on Ukrainian exports

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago wheat slid for a sixth consecutive session on Wednesday, after sharp gains overnight as supply jitters caused by a Russian strike against a Ukrainian port were tempered by strong Russian exports and signs Moscow is open to reviving a Black Sea corridor deal. Soybeans dipped to one-month lows and corn […] Read more

Photo: Thinkstock

CBOT weekly outlook: August forecasts pulling prices down 

Wheat prices went down during the week despite Russia’s withdrawal from Black Sea deal

MarketsFarm – Recent weather forecasts for much of the United States put pressure on grain prices on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) during the week ended Aug. 2.  Cooler and wetter conditions are expected for the U.S. Midwest during the first half of August, which could help stabilize corn and soybean crops affected by […] Read more

(Thinkstock photo)

U.S. grains: Soybeans climb on export hopes; corn, wheat remain weak

Wheat slips again as Black Sea competition continues

Chicago | Reuters – Soybean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade ended higher on Tuesday after two-sided trade, as export demand optimism won out over forecasts for cooler, wetter weather that pressured markets. Chicago corn eased, pressured by expectations that timely rains in August would improve heat-stressed crops. Wheat fell for a fifth session […] Read more


The Chicago Board of Trade building on May 28, 2018. (Harmantasdc/iStock Editorial/Getty Images)

U.S. grains: corn, soy fall as US weather improves

Wheat dropped despite Black Sea supply concerns

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago soybeans and corn fell on Monday, pressured by expectations of cooler, wetter weather across the U.S. Midwest in August. Wheat also dropped, despite worries over Black Sea supplies, although no new major Russian attacks on Ukrainian grain infrastructure were reported over the weekend. Chicago Board of Trade most-active corn Cv1contract […] Read more

Photo: Thinkstock

U.S. grains: grain, soy futures drop on milder US weather, with eyes on Black Sea

Markets have retreated since touching multi-week highs on Monday

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Board of Trade grain and soybean futures fell to their lowest prices in more than a week on Friday on hopes that U.S. crop weather will improve and Russia will ease its attacks on Ukraine’s grain facilities, analysts said. Technical selling added pressure to prices. Heading into August, the key […] Read more