CBOT July 2019 soybeans with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Weak export data drags soybeans to new lows

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures posted contract lows for a fourth straight session on Thursday after weak U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) export sales data and amid ongoing concerns that rain-delayed corn sowing would increase soy plantings. Corn was mixed as spillover pressure from lower soybeans offset support stemming from concerns about delayed […] Read more

CBOT July 2019 corn with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn higher on wet weather forecast

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures rose about one per cent on Friday as wet weather forecast for the Midwest crop belt prompted short-covering, analysts said, while soybeans fell to multi-month lows. Wheat futures firmed slightly but still recorded a weekly decline as ample global supplies anchored the market. Chicago Board of Trade July […] Read more

CBOT July 2019 soybeans with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soy higher after three-day skid

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures closed higher on Thursday, snapping a three-session slide, while corn and wheat rebounded from contract lows as fund-driven selling paused and forecasts signaled more U.S. planting delays, traders said. Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) July soybeans settled up four cents at $8.72-3/4 per bushel (all figures US$). CBOT […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

StatsCan confirms smaller canola acres, more wheat

MarketsFarm — Canadian farmers intend to seed more spring wheat and less canola in 2019, according to Statistics Canada survey results released Wednesday. Additional shifts are also likely in subsequent reports, as dry conditions in southern Alberta and Saskatchewan may alter some intentions. Statistics Canada forecast canola area for 2019 at 21.3 million acres, which […] Read more

CBOT July 2019 corn (candlesticks), with July 2019 soybeans (green line). (Barchart)

CBOT weekly outlook: Bear market aches for bull news

MarketsFarm –– The Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) is currently a bear-market, according to broker Scott Capinegro of Barrington Commodity Brokers. “It’s like the markets are saying ‘Show me something, we’ll take anything,’ but the bears are winning,” he said, noting there has been almost no news to drive the market in a bullish manner. […] Read more




CBOT May 2019 corn (candlesticks) compared with May 2019 soybeans (green line). (Barchart)

CBOT weekly outlook: Weather, flooding are main focus

MarketsFarm — This spring’s weather and flooding in the United States have become the main focus for traders at the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT), said an analyst. “What kind of planting conditions, how much rain, how much flooding, and how cold things are,” listed Steve Georgy, president of Allendale Inc. at McHenry, Ill. The […] Read more


There are several areas on a planter you should focus your attention on before taking to the field.

Use planter checklist before heading to the field

Smooth planter operation requires attention to hydraulics, meters and other parts

Spring planting will be underway shortly, and thorough checks of planting equipment are vital to crop success. Josh Boersen and his father Brad farm cash crops and broiler chickens north of Stratford, and have been doing checks of their planters for many years. Off the top, they emphasize safety first. Every year when they set […] Read more

Getting out of the tractor cab to check soil conditions is important to getting 
the crop off to a strong start.

Patience pays off to ensure the best soil planting conditions

Temperature and moisture are the main components to analyze when planting

Spring 2019 will arrive soon and the planting season is quickly approaching. Farmers spend most of their work time in a tractor during planting, but some of the most valuable time is off the tractor, checking soil conditions. “Boots in the field pays for itself every single time, getting out of the cab and double-checking, […] Read more