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Pulse Market Insight #232

Weather is and always will be the dominant driver of crop markets. That’s obvious. All other factors – geopolitics, trade wars, government policy, hedge funds – take a back seat to rainfall and temperatures. This time of year is the most critical, as crops emerge and yield potential is already being determined.

While every growing season is different, western Canada has seen extremes in the past 3-4 years. In some areas, 2020 was already a drought year, which then widened and deepened in 2021. Most, but not all, areas saw relief in 2022. The 2023 growing season started with widespread concerns about dryness, especially in central and northern areas that are typically wetter at the beginning of the year. Just in the past week though, welcome rains fell in northwest Alberta and north central Saskatchewan. But that still leaves large parts of Alberta facing dry conditions as the crop emerges.

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Trending Video

2.5 Billion Pounds Of Sunflower Are Harvested To Produce Oil This Way | Farming Documentary

Video: 2.5 Billion Pounds Of Sunflower Are Harvested To Produce Oil This Way | Farming Documentary

2.5 Billion Pounds Of Sunflower Are Harvested To Produce Oil This Way - Let's Dive In! Join us as we uncover the extraordinary journey behind harvesting a staggering 2.5 billion pounds of sunflowers in the United States, all to produce the golden sunflower oil that graces kitchens worldwide! In this documentary, we take you from vast sunflower fields to cutting-edge oil production facilities, where modern innovation meets agricultural expertise.

What You'll Discover:

•The Sunflower Harvest Process: Dive into the fascinating methods used by farmers to plant, care for, and harvest sunflowers across America's farmlands.

•High-Tech Harvesting Machines: See the impressive machinery in action, from specialized harvesters designed for sunflower seeds to the efficient transport systems that ensure every pound counts.

•From Seed to Oil: Explore the transformation of sunflower seeds into premium cooking oil, including cleaning, pressing, and refining processes in state-of-the-art factories.