Insights and Stories of Phil Franz-Warkentin

Commodity funds hold large canola short positions

Apr. 15, 2010 at 3:34 pm CDT

(Resource News International) — The traditional commodity funds are holding large short positions in canola and have been adding to those positions in recent sessions, according to market participants. Those large short positions could leave canola open to some short-covering related buying, but index funds on the other side are […]

Pulse, swine, barley trade deals set with China

Apr. 15, 2010 at 2:09 pm CDT

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

Flaxseed exports up, low prices create demand

Apr. 14, 2010 at 10:52 pm CDT

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

Barley bids firm, larger spring rally unlikely

Apr. 13, 2010 at 1:34 pm CDT

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

Oats show firmness, upside likely limited

Apr. 12, 2010 at 3:49 pm CDT

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

Canola crush margins hold strong despite loonie

Apr. 8, 2010 at 5:15 pm CDT

(Resource News International) — Canola crush margins have improved over the past week, despite the strong Canadian dollar, and appear set to hold around their current levels, according to a trader who follows the margins. Crush margins provide an indication of how much money processors are making at any given […]

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

Canada’s hemp acres on the rise

Apr. 7, 2010 at 3:28 pm CDT

Corrected, April 7 (Resource News International) — Canadian farmers are expected to grow more hemp this year, as demand for both the seed and fibre is increasing, and the crop can offer good returns to producers, according to an industry official. “This year there is a lot of optimism in […]

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

Pea ending stocks likely large, could grow

Apr. 6, 2010 at 5:44 pm CDT

(Resource News International) –– Large pea supplies in Western Canada could be even more burdensome in the upcoming 2010-11 crop year, as farmers will still be looking to put a pulse in their rotations despite the lower prices. “It’s looking like we’ll have a million tonnes of peas left over […]

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

Lentils stuck in stalemate

Apr. 5, 2010 at 10:26 pm CDT

(Resource News International) — Lentil buyers and sellers in Western Canada remain at a stalemate, with farmers reluctant to make many sales at current prices and end-users holding out for cheaper new-crop supplies. “Growers are hanging onto what they have left for lentils, particularly red lentils, so it’s been difficult […]

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

Weather concerns support canola

Mar. 30, 2010 at 4:23 pm CDT

(Resource News International) — Canola contracts traded on the ICE Futures Canada platform are starting to trend higher in the charts, despite a correction on Tuesday, with concerns about the dry weather conditions in Alberta and Saskatchewan behind some of the general strength. Jerry Klassen, manager with GAP Grains in […]

By Phil Franz-Warkentin