Insights and Stories of Phil Franz-Warkentin

Prairies dry, but don’t write off 2012 crops just yet

Feb. 22, 2012 at 7:06 pm CST

Weather maps remain dry for most of Western Canada and the lack of snow cover is leading to concerns that farmers could be facing drought conditions in the summer of 2012. However, precipitation in the spring and summer will be much more important in determining yield prospects going forward, according […]

New opportunities likely for low-grade malt barley

Feb. 11, 2012 at 12:01 am CST

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

Warm weather, no snow mixed blessings for Prairie insects

Jan. 30, 2012 at 7:02 pm CST

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

Chickpeas pencil out great, but acres a question

Jan. 19, 2012 at 7:15 pm CST

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

Crop Week: Canadian wheat watching world weather

Jan. 13, 2012 at 11:20 pm CST

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

Crop Week: Farmers ‘kicking tires’ at crop show

Jan. 13, 2012 at 2:09 am CST

Prairie farmers kicking tires on the new tractors on display here this week at the annual Crop Production Show were also busy weighing their options on what to plant in 2012. New-crop pricing opportunities were sporadic at best at the show, with more than one grain company rep describing the […]

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

Crop Week: Canola outlook bearish

Jan. 12, 2012 at 7:13 pm CST

Canola futures and western Canadian cash bids are expected to trend lower over the next year or so, as both the charts and outside fundamentals look bearish, according to analyst Greg Kostal of Kostal Ag Consulting. Speaking here Thursday to the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission during Crop Week, Kostal said […]

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

Crop Week: AWB experience similar but different to CWB

Jan. 11, 2012 at 10:40 pm CST

The changes to wheat marketing currently underway in Western Canada, with the end of the Canadian Wheat Board’s single desk, echo those made in Australia over the past decade. Canada can expect to face some of the same challenges and opportunities as experienced in Australia going forward, but there are […]

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

Crop Week: Domestic pulse processing touted

Jan. 11, 2012 at 11:27 am CST

Increased domestic processing capacity will help improve the long-term success of the pulse sector in Western Canada, said Murad Al-Katib, CEO of SaskCan Pulse/Alliance Grain Traders, which plans to build a processing plant in Saskatchewan. Speaking here Tuesday to the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers during Crop Week, Al-Katib stressed that the […]

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

Crop Week: Peas tight, but macro issues weigh

Jan. 11, 2012 at 11:19 am CST

Tight Canadian pea supplies continue to underpin the market, but global macroeconomic concerns may keep prices from strengthening much above their current high levels, presenters said here Tuesday during Crop Week. Speaking at the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers meeting, Mike Jubinville of ProFarmer Canada and Colin Topham of Agrocorp International pointed […]

By Phil Franz-Warkentin