For the better part of the last two decades, commodity markets have become accustomed to demand growth from China supporting prices. Whether it was iron ore from Australia or soybeans from the U.S., sales to China grew year-over-year. However, it’s becoming increasingly likely that those days are over. Headlines over the last few week to show the… Read More
Category: Markets
While U.S. farmers are adjusting to significantly lower grain prices, declining currency values have buffered growers in Canada and many other parts of the world. U.S. futures have dropped off, but cash values in Canada have maintained their value, and in some cases, have risen, thanks to the weakness with the Canadian dollar. “The devaluing of the… Read More
Markets across the board started 2016 a little rough as fresh Chinese economic concerns continue to show contraction which led to not one, but two halts to trading in their stock markets this week! While the Chinese government moved to support the market immediately by flooding it with fresh capital, the broader market still isn’t… Read More
Anne Wasko of Gateway Livestock, in conversation with guest host Kelvin Heppner. . It’s an interesting time for cattle markets, with the Canadian dollar hitting record lows, weather in the United States putting pressure on supply estimates, and the recent repeal of country-of-origin labelling (COOL). In fact, as we start off the new year, we’re seeing a pretty… Read More
Quality and consistency. That’s what international buyers expect with Canadian wheat. It’s been said a thousand times already, but if you ask Saskatchewan farmer Gerrid Gust what his take-home message was after visiting customers in North Africa and the Middle East, he can’t help but emphasize the importance of maintaining Canada’s reputation for quality and… Read More
Winnipeg-based special crops marketing company Legumex Walker has cleared its final hurdle in winding down operations, announcing on Tuesday it has handed over its 84 percent stake in Pacific Coast Canola and PCC’s troubled crush plant in Washington. The divestiture arrangement sees Glencore increase its ownership stake in PCC from 16 percent to 50 percent for no… Read More
J.P. Gervais, chief agricultural economist for Farm Credit Canada, in conversation with RealAgriculture’s Debra Murphy at the 2015 Canadian Forage and Grasslands Association Conference in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (before mCOOL was repealed). 2015 saw some pretty incredible market pressures in the livestock sector, amidst overarching trade stories with the ongoing battle over country-of-origin labeling and the conclusion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations. But… Read More
2015 hasn’t necessarily been a great year for grains complex, let alone anyone who works in the commodity sector. The most watched fall from grace came in the form of oil prices continuing to be pushed lower by sustained production highs by the likes of O.P.E.C. and the U.S.A., who also just recently announced they’re… Read More
With the U.S. Federal Reserve raising interest rates for the first time in almost a decade and the Bank of Canada suggesting it’s considering negative interest rates, how much lower can the Canadian loonie drop relative to the U.S. dollar? It’s an important question when determining whether to lock in basis levels, as movement in the currency… Read More
Pea prices in Western Canada are at record levels and showing no signs of weakness, largely due to the pulse crop shortage in India. Old crop yellow peas are fetching spot bids over $11/bu while contracts for 2016 are in the $9.50 to $10/bu range (most with Act of God clauses). “At this stage of… Read More
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack declared on Friday afternoon that “effective immediately” the U.S. Department of Agriculture would not be enforcing country of origin labeling rules for beef and pork. It’s been over seven years since American packers were forced to segregate Canadian animals and meat. How quickly can they go back to operating how they… Read More
Grain prices have swayed back and forth this week thanks to some aggressive reactions to the U.S. Federal Reserve’s interest rate increase on Wednesday, as well as a little short-covering, and (barely) bullish weather concerns out of Brazil. Most of the complex ended the week lower though than it started, with oats being the biggest… Read More
After 13-plus years of opposition — the last seven of those in legal and trade disputes, Canadian livestock producers and their organizations are celebrating the end of U.S. country of origin labeling legislation for beef and pork today. Both the U.S. House and Senate voted in favour of the omnibus appropriations bill that includes text… Read More
These are exciting times for lentil growers, with record Canadian lentil acres projected for 2016. Red lentil bids in Western Canada have spiked into the C$0.50/lb range due to a combination of poor growing conditions in India and the lower value of the Canadian dollar relative to U.S. currency. “There’s no question we’re going to have acres… Read More
Update Dec 18, 2015: Both the U.S. House and Senate voted in favour of the legislation, including the text to repeal COOL, on Friday. The bill now heads to the White House for President Obama’s approval. With retaliation from Canada and Mexico looming, the U.S. government took a step late Tuesday toward repealing its mandatory country… Read More