Pulse Sales to Middle East Markets Are ‘Frozen’
Canadian pulse exporters say sales to the Middle East have effectively frozen due to the Iran‑related conflict. Shipping lines are diverting cargo, imposing surcharges up to $2,000 per container and rerouting fees, making deliveries unsafe and uneconomical. The MENA region, which bought 801,000 tonnes worth $769 million in 2025, now faces halted orders and reduced liquidity. Prices for Canadian lentils have slipped from $0.25 to $0.23 per pound.
Farm Budgeting in Seven Steps
Rising input costs and inflation have made farm profitability a pressing concern, prompting growers to adopt rigorous budgeting. Craig Macfie outlines a seven‑step framework covering land, gross margin, capital, labour, operating, debt, and owner‑compensation budgets. By separating owned and rented...
Split Market Seen for Prairie Farmland
Prairie farmland is entering a split market, with premium land still appreciating while average parcels stagnate or decline. After 15‑20 years of steady gains, 2024 saw a 9.3% national price rise and a 13.1% jump in Saskatchewan, but offers per...
Two New Conveyors From AGI
AGI unveiled two new grain conveyors this fall: the gas‑over‑hydraulic FX4 SP and the electric top‑drive FX4 18S. The FX4 SP handles up to 8,000 bushels per hour with a 37‑hp gas engine and a self‑propelled mover kit, while the...
Pre-Weaning Respiratory Disease Studied in Beef Calves
Researchers evaluated an intranasal bovine coronavirus/rotavirus vaccine in a commercial Alberta cow‑cattle operation to determine its effect on pre‑weaning respiratory disease. In a randomized trial of 887 calves, the vaccinated group required treatment for bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in 16 %...
Use It or Lose It: Maintaining Overall Mobility to Support Daily Farm Life
The Fit to Farm column stresses that everyday mobility hinges on the simple principle of “use it or lose it,” with squatting highlighted as a foundational movement for farm workers and anyone aging in place. It explains how squatting underpins...
Middle East Conflict Sends Ammonia Prices Higher
Ammonia fertilizer prices have jumped as the Middle East conflict disrupts shipments from key producers, lifting European spot rates by roughly $50 per tonne. The region, responsible for 23% of global ammonia trade, saw vessels stranded and diverted, tightening supply....
AGT Foods Goes Public in Bid to Scale Business
AGT Food and Ingredients completed a $625 million IPO on the Toronto Stock Exchange, using the proceeds to retire roughly $940 million of debt and strengthen its balance sheet. The company announced expansion plans, including a new pasta plant in India and...
Farmers of North America Attempts Another Run at AgraCity Assets
Farmers of North America (FNA) is pursuing a separate Plan of Arrangement to acquire AgraCity’s assets after being barred from the court‑appointed sales process. The Saskatchewan court has given FNA until March 16 to file the plan, with a member‑commitment...
Saskatchewan Spring Runoff Should Be Normal, Below Normal
The Water Security Agency’s spring runoff outlook shows most of Saskatchewan will see near‑to‑below‑normal runoff. The southwest, from Kindersley to Assiniboia, is projected well below normal, while eastern areas near Yorkton should experience normal conditions. Recent fall precipitation was below...
No Evidence of Health Risks From Genetically Modified Crops Found
South Korean researchers from Seoul National University and Chosun University published a paper showing no scientific link between genetically modified (GM) crops and chronic diseases, confirming earlier findings from the 2016 National Academies report. Their analysis of PubMed literature and...
Port of Vancouver Moves Record Wheat Volume
Port of Vancouver set a new grain export record in 2025, moving 30.3 million tonnes of bulk cargo, driven by a 20 % jump in wheat shipments to 15.9 million tonnes. While wheat volumes surged, canola seed exports slumped 23 % to 6.6 million tonnes...
War in Iran Sends Farmer’s Fuel, Fertilizer Costs Soaring
The Israel‑U.S. attacks on Iran have turned the Strait of Hormuz into a virtual no‑go zone, halting shipments of crude, natural gas and key fertilizers. Blocked exports of nitrogen, ammonia and phosphates pushed urea prices 71% to $600 a ton,...
Canola Watches CUSMA Talks
Canadian canola exports are heavily dependent on the United States, with 78% of oil shipments projected for 2025 and 66% of meal exports in 2024. The joint review of the Canada‑U.S‑Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) begins July 1, and the U.S. is conducting...
The Good, Bad & Ugly
Canola futures rose to C$719.90 per tonne, the highest level since August 2025, buoyed by a 3.3% jump in soybean oil and modest soybean gains. Wheat prices edged higher, but rising fuel costs for shipping threaten demand growth. Crude oil surged...
Canadian Feeder Cattle Market Remains Firm
Western Canadian feeder cattle markets held firm for the week ending Feb. 21, with yearling prices climbing about $10 per hundredweight and calf values showing mixed movement. Improved short‑term feedlot margins bolstered the yearling segment, while unusually cold Alberta weather...
USDA’s Canadian Wheat Carryout Much Lower
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service projects Canadian wheat ending stocks at 5.82 million tonnes for 2025‑26, notably lower than Agriculture and Agri‑Food Canada’s 7.35 million‑tonne estimate. Both agencies still forecast a record 39.96 million tonnes of total wheat production, up 23 %...
Saskatchewan Premier Heads to India for Trade Talks
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is leading a week‑long trade mission to India, concentrating on agriculture, potash and uranium. The trip coincides with the Raisina Dialogue and runs alongside Prime Minister Mark Carney’s meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Moe aims...
Overnight Trade
Crude oil rallied to $65.89 per barrel this morning as concerns over a potential Iranian conflict resurfaced, while the Canadian dollar held near 65.89 U.S. cents. In the grain sector, canola futures slipped to C$690.20 a tonne, pressured by a...
Funds Slowly Lifting Wheat Postion
Managed‑money funds have begun easing their long‑standing short stance in wheat, reducing a net short of 97,370 contracts (13.2 million tonnes) after buying back 26,772 contracts in the week to February 17. The spring wheat market remains the most heavily shorted, with...
The Good, Bad & Ugly
Funds aggressively rebuilt soybean exposure, buying back 94,316 contracts and pushing net‑long positions to 123,148 contracts—the highest since late 2025. Parallel buying lifted soybean oil to a net‑long of 33,093 contracts, the strongest level since August 2025, benefitting the broader...
Canadian Farm Milk Price Changes to Reflect Growing Protein Demand
Canadian dairy farmer organizations are overhauling milk pricing to reflect a surge in protein‑rich product demand, with cottage cheese volumes up 32% and yogurt up 7% in 2025. The Western Milk Pool will pay 70% for butterfat, 25% for protein...