Insights and Stories of Phil Franz-Warkentin

Feed weekly outlook: Prairie markets hold steady

Feb. 2, 2023 at 8:04 pm CST

MarketsFarm — Feed grain markets in Western Canada have seen little change over the past few weeks. Feed barley bids across Western Canada have generally held steady over the past month, with the spot market topping out at $9.58 per bushel in Alberta, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire data. Prices […]

China top destination for Canadian grains, oilseeds

Feb. 1, 2023 at 8:21 pm CST

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

Pulse weekly outlook: India looking for lentils, large Australian crop in play

Jan. 31, 2023 at 7:04 pm CST

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

Spec short position grows in canola

Jan. 30, 2023 at 7:45 pm CST

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

ICE weekly outlook: Canola trading window lowered

Jan. 25, 2023 at 6:20 pm CST

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

CBOT weekly outlook: Soy, corn markets’ eyes on South America

Jan. 18, 2023 at 3:42 pm CST

MarketsFarm — Soybean and corn futures at the Chicago Board of Trade were boosted by last Thursday’s bullish supply/demand estimates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but attention has since shifted back to South American growing conditions. “The primary thing right now is South American weather,” said market analyst Tom […]

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

Fund traders flip back to short side on canola

Jan. 16, 2023 at 4:32 pm CST

MarketsFarm — After briefly holding a net long position to start the New Year, speculators were back holding a net short position in canola in the second week of January as they liquidated long positions and put on some new bearish bets. The latest Commitments of Traders (CoT) report compiled […]

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

Prairie cash wheat: Bids dip as loonie soars

Jan. 15, 2023 at 7:53 am CST

MarketsFarm — Spring wheat bids in Western Canada moved lower during the week ended Thursday as a sharp gain in the Canadian dollar relative to its U.S. counterpart cut into basis levels. The currency was up by roughly a penny on the week, settling Thursday at its highest level in […]

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

Ocean freight rates falling

Jan. 14, 2023 at 1:51 pm CST

MarketsFarm — Ocean freight rates are under pressure to start 2023, with the Baltic Dry Index (BDI) dipping to its lowest level since June 2020 as poor demand for vessels weighed on values. A seasonal slowdown of cargo movement ahead of the Chinese New Year was seen as contributing to […]

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

Feed weekly outlook: Corn imports still weigh on domestic feed market

Jan. 11, 2023 at 2:14 pm CST

MarketsFarm — Ample corn imports from the U.S. continue to keep the western Canadian feed grain market under pressure, with barley bids in Lethbridge trending lower through the early days of 2023. “We started the year with cash barley trading at roughly $450 (per tonne) in Lethbridge, it’s since declined […]

By Phil Franz-Warkentin