Insights and Stories of Phil Franz-Warkentin

Weekly soybean crush hits record

Nov. 30, 2012 at 3:32 pm CST

Canada’s weekly soybean crush is running at a very strong pace, as favourable margins for processing the crop, and tight supplies of canola, cause those plants with flexible capacity in Eastern Canada to increase the percentage of soybeans moving through their facilities. Canada crushed 46,241 tonnes of soybeans during the […]

Softer fertilizer prices seen likely over winter

Nov. 28, 2012 at 9:12 pm CST

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

Sluggish lentil market drifting down

Nov. 22, 2012 at 6:18 pm CST

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

DDGS cheaper but still too pricey for Canadian feed

Nov. 20, 2012 at 7:10 pm CST

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

Grains, oilseeds seen pulled toward ‘fiscal cliff’

Nov. 16, 2012 at 3:09 pm CST

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

Prairie durum market grows quiet

Nov. 13, 2012 at 7:39 pm CST

The durum market in Western Canada is quiet for the time being, with buyers and sellers both backing away after seeing steady movement earlier in the fall. "We’ve been busy buying up until this point, and now things have quieted down," said Warren Mareschal, sales manager with South West Terminal […]

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

Canola fundamentals still supportive

Nov. 8, 2012 at 11:15 am CST

ICE Futures Canada canola contracts moved lower during the week ending Wednesday, dropping sharply for two consecutive sessions before uncovering some support to the downside. While further technical declines are possible in the short-term, the fundamentals remain supportive overall, according to an analyst. If actual Canadian canola production in 2012 […]

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

Barley bids reaching plateau in Western Canada

Oct. 29, 2012 at 5:00 pm CDT

Barley prices in the key Lethbridge, Alberta cattle-feeding area have risen steadily over the past two months, but may be nearing their highs for the time being as other commodities are starting to displace barley in rations. Barley is currently trading in the $275 to $285 per tonne level in […]

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

Will the U.S. election matter for Canada’s farmers?

Oct. 18, 2012 at 6:28 pm CDT

Western Canada’s farmers may not get a vote in the upcoming U.S. election, but policy south of the border can have a major effect on the agricultural markets across North America. U.S. agricultural policy “is extremely important… and has always had drastic effects on us,” said Terry Boehm, president of […]

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

Canola stuck in range

Oct. 18, 2012 at 2:44 am CDT

ICE Futures Canada canola contracts have seen some wide price swings over the past week, but are relatively unchanged from where they were only five trading days earlier, with small losses in the two front months and a firmer tone in the more deferred positions. Choppy, range-bound activity is expected […]

By Phil Franz-Warkentin