The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is currently the subject of heavy debate in the United States, as President Donald Trump tries to satisfy both the farm and energy industries in his base. On one side, you have Ted Cruz (R-TX) working hard on behalf of the refiners to push for changes to the RFS and… Read More
Category: Markets
Farmers across North America have been looking for an opportunity to experience higher prices for grain commodities. The USDA’s May WASDE report, including the first ending stock estimates for 2018-19, was released on Thursday. On the surface, it looked like higher prices could be possible with the smaller-than-expect global supply estimates, but the market hardly… Read More
Two-and-a-half years after acquiring Red Deer-based farm consulting company Agri-Trend, Trimble is changing the way it works with the independent agronomy and grain marketing advisors that make up the Agri-Trend network. The company is focusing on providing its new digital platform to Agri-Trend’s affiliated “coaches,” while no longer offering administrative services, such as pricing and… Read More
The last time gasoline prices across Canada were where they are today, averaging around $1.33/litre, was in July 2014, when the price of oil was around US$100 a barrel. Oil prices have been trending higher since last summer, but are still $30 below where they were in July 2014. So why are fuel prices so… Read More
Grain prices this week were mostly in the green as the market continues to weigh geopolitical risk versus weather risk (and thus, planting risk). And though planting is certainly behind in many areas of the major North American growing regions, it’s still early (relatively speaking). U.S seeding is well below behind the usual averages, and… Read More
Is corn growing greener beyond Ontario borders? How does corn profitability and cost of production in the province stack up with other growing regions around the world — from the U.S. to South America, Ukraine, and China?These are some of the questions Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs business analysis and cost of… Read More
As farmers hit the field and the tractors start to roll, diesel prices are on the minds of farmers. The biggest driver of diesel prices is the price of oil, and it has been on a real run upwards in the last 52 weeks. In the last 52 weeks, crude oil is up 39 percent… Read More
Statistics Canada’s crop reports are often subject to criticism, with analysts, traders and farmers questioning or downplaying the accuracy and relevance of the agency’s estimates. Participating in a StatsCan survey when the agency calls or emails you is technically mandatory under federal law, but the running joke is that farmers don’t provide accurate information to… Read More
Statistics Canada surprised grain market analysts with higher-than-expected acreage estimates for wheat, durum, lentils and peas, and a much lower-than-expected number for canola, on Friday. Coming off a dry year in much of Western Canada in 2017, you can’t help but notice the crops that came in above expectations are crops we generally think of… Read More
The issue: Taking a look at Friday’s StatsCan report, it looks like Canadian farmers are calling the bet on geopolitical trade disruptions. It appears farmers essentially see existing and potential trade barriers as a bluff worth calling in favour of other factors. Some examples: Durum – Even though there has not been a load of… Read More