Insights and Stories of Phil Franz-Warkentin

Morocco’s drought to support Prairie durum prospects

Apr. 11, 2012 at 4:30 am CDT

Drought concerns in Spain and Morocco could bode well for Canadian durum exports, as the two Mediterranean countries are both major producers of the crop. "The dryness in Morocco has been building since December, and we’ve seen it continue to build," said Stuart McMillan, a weather and crop analyst with […]

Jury still out on CWB’s new wheat contracts

Apr. 4, 2012 at 6:25 pm CDT

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

Tightening canola rotations may pose problems in long run

Apr. 2, 2012 at 11:30 pm CDT

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

Durum acres set to rise, but canola competing

Mar. 28, 2012 at 5:30 pm CDT

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

Prairie seeding still a month away

Mar. 20, 2012 at 11:31 pm CDT

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

Prairie shortline railways look ahead to new reality

Mar. 14, 2012 at 4:20 pm CDT

The looming end of the Canadian Wheat Board’s single desk for marketing wheat, durum, and barley in Western Canada on Aug. 1 may lead to changes to the shortline railways in the region. The shortlines predominantly move CWB grains, but industry participants expressed confidence in their viability and the continued […]

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

Prairie farmland demand strong

Mar. 11, 2012 at 10:00 pm CDT

Optimism in the agricultural sector has many Prairie farmers looking to add to their land-base this spring. That strong demand, together with a lack of willing sellers, is causing land prices to continue to move higher across Western Canada, according to real estate agents specializing in farmland. "There seems to […]

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

European rapeseed problems support canola

Mar. 7, 2012 at 6:31 pm CST

Adverse weather conditions in Europe this winter will likely cut into rapeseed production in the region, which would provide some indirect support for the Canadian canola market. "Any loss in Europe would tighten up world supplies… which would support our prices," said Chris Beckman, oilseed analyst with Agriculture and Agri-Food […]

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

Grain World: Pooling, other options discussed for Prairie wheat

Feb. 29, 2012 at 11:43 am CST

Western Canadian farmers will be marketing their wheat, durum and barley in an open market for the first time in generations with the end of the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) single desk at the start of the 2012-13 crop year on Aug. 1. Some farmers may choose to continue marketing […]

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

GrainWorld: Which wheat futures are best?

Feb. 29, 2012 at 11:32 am CST

The end of the Canadian Wheat Board’s single desk for marketing western Canadian wheat, due Aug. 1, is expected to create an increased need for a viable futures market to manage risk and aid in price discovery. To that end, representatives of the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT), Minneapolis Grain […]

By Phil Franz-Warkentin