Are grain merchants starting to feel the pressure as Harvest 2026 gets underway?

In Episode 143 of the What The Futures Podcast, Ryan breaks down some major developments happening across the Western Canadian grain market, including a significant weather event across the Prairies, harvest delays, grain quality concerns, changing basis levels and what it could mean for farmers and grain buyers.

We also sit down with Cody McNernie from O&T Farms to discuss the flax market, pulse markets, specialty crop purchasing, forward contracting and the relationship between farmers and processors. Cody explains how O&T Farms works directly with Prairie farmers to source flax and pulses for its value-added feed ingredient business.

Later, Brian Comeault from Canadian Agriculture Markets joins the show to break down the latest StatsCan grain stocks and supply-and-demand numbers, including surprisingly tight canola ending stocks, heavier supplies of some pulse crops and what the data could mean for grain prices heading into the coming months.

Brian also shares his outlook on a potential grain market correction, why farmers should expect corrections rather than fear them, and why the fundamentals could still look promising heading into late winter and spring 2027.

🌾 In This Episode:

00:00 Harvest 2026 Grain Market Update
08:39 Cody McNerney Joins the Show | Flax & Pulse Markets
12:15 How Processors Buy Directly From Farmers
15:51 Why Forward Contracting Flax Is Becoming More Popular
18:29 Flax Varieties & What Processors Are Looking For
22:08 Flax & Pulse Price Outlook
25:27 Crop Marketing Made Cool Conference & Farmer Opportunity
37:40 Grain Merchants Are Back on the Ropes?
41:04 Should Farmers Hold Their Best Quality Grain?
42:26 Third-Party Grain Grading & Harvest Quality
46:37 Brian Comeau Joins the Show | Harvest & StatsCan
51:36 Durum, Wheat Premiums & Farmer Negotiating Power
54:53 StatsCan Grain Stocks: What Stands Out?
55:41 Tight Canola Stocks & the Canola Market Outlook
58:25 Lentils, Peas & Oats: What's the Outlook?
59:59 U.S. Drought, Winter Wheat & Bullish Market Factors
1:02:22 Is a Grain Market Correction Coming?
1:08:21 Yellow Peas, Wheat & Durum Prices Moving Higher
1:10:11 Grain Discounts, Quality & Negotiating With Buyers
1:12:36 Final Thoughts: Stay Sharp This Harvest

If you're a Canadian grain farmer, Prairie producer or agricultural professional, this episode covers some of the biggest issues facing grain producers right now — from canola prices and wheat markets to grain quality, basis, StatsCan stocks, harvest delays and crop marketing strategy.

Topics Covered:
- Canola prices and ending stocks
- Wheat prices and spring wheat premiums
- Durum prices and grain demand
- Yellow peas and lentil markets
- Flax prices and specialty crops
- Grain merchant demand
- Harvest 2026 weather challenges
- Grain quality and third-party grading
- StatsCan grain stocks
- Grain basis and negotiating better prices
- Forward contracting
- Grain marketing strategy
- Potential market corrections
- 2027 grain market outlook

Are farmers gaining leverage over grain merchants? And should you be holding your best-quality grain this harvest?

Let us know what you're seeing in your area.

Subscribe to What The Futures for weekly grain market analysis, commodity price outlooks, crop marketing strategies and conversations with farmers and agriculture industry experts across Western Canada.

#GrainMarketing #Canola #Wheat #GrainMarkets #Farming #Agriculture #Harvest2026 #CanadianAgriculture #CanolaPrices #WheatPrices #Durum #Flax #Peas #CommodityMarkets #WhatTheFutures

🎧 Listen to the show on the go.

Are grain merchants finally on the ropes in Western Canada?

As Harvest 2026 moves along, we're seeing some interesting changes in the grain market — including stronger bids, farmers holding back grain, changing basis levels and merchants competing for bushels.

In Episode 142 of the What The Futures Podcast, Ryan breaks down what's happening across the Western Canadian grain market, including wheat, yellow peas and canola, and why farmers may have more leverage than they realize.

We also look at grain marketing strategy, basis levels, futures contracts, harvest prices and cash flow, including why farmers need to be careful about simply accepting the posted price from a grain company.

Then, Greg Stamp joins the podcast for a deep dive into fall-seeded crops. We discuss winter wheat, hybrid rye, fall seeding windows, yield potential, crop margins, new varieties and why fall crops could become an increasingly important part of a farmer's 2027 cropping and marketing strategy.

🌾 In This Episode:

00:00 Are Grain Merchants on the Ropes?
05:40 Grain Contracts & Marketing Risks
07:33 The Problem With Futures-First Contracts
15:30 John Deere's New AI Farm Technology
16:50 Wheat Market Outlook: Is Another Rally Coming?
21:04 Are Farmers Gaining the Upper Hand?
22:17 Yellow Peas & Negotiating Better Prices
24:39 Harvest Challenges, Quality & Grain Supply
26:39 Greg Stamp Joins the Show
29:20 Fall Crop Seeding: Is Now the Time?
31:18 Winter Wheat: Big Margin Potential?
33:11 Winter Wheat & Hybrid Rye Yield Potential
37:39 Faba Beans: New Processing Opportunities
40:19 Best Crops & Strategies for 2027
50:49 The Truth About Posted Basis Prices
53:29 Cash Flow, Grain Marketing & Rewarding a Rally

🌾 What We Cover

If you're a Canadian grain farmer, Prairie producer or agricultural professional, this episode is packed with practical ideas for navigating Harvest 2026, managing cash flow and making better grain marketing decisions.

We cover:

- Wheat prices and grain market outlook
- Canola prices and basis
- Yellow pea prices
- Grain contracts and futures-first contracts
- How to negotiate with grain merchants
- Posted basis vs. actual achievable basis
- Grain storage and harvest marketing
- Winter wheat
- Hybrid rye
- Fall-seeded crops
- Crop margins and profitability
- Faba beans and new processing demand
- 2027 crop planning
- Cash flow management
- Grain marketing strategies for a potential commodity rally

Are grain merchants really on the ropes? And what are you selling, holding or planting this fall?

Let us know in the comments!

Subscribe to What The Futures for weekly grain market analysis, commodity price outlooks, crop marketing strategies and conversations with farmers and agriculture industry experts across Western Canada.

#GrainMarketing #GrainMarkets #Canola #Wheat #Farming #Agriculture #Harvest2026 #CanadianAgriculture #WheatPrices #CanolaPrices #WinterWheat #HybridRye #Farmers #CommodityMarkets #WhatTheFutures

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Fertilizer markets remain volatile, but are current urea prices an opportunity for farmers to start locking in their 2027 needs?

On Episode 140 of the What The Futures Podcast, Ryan Denis is joined by fertilizer market expert Josh Linville to break down what’s happening in global fertilizer markets and what it could mean for farmers heading into 2027.

Ryan recently had a second chance to lock in urea at a price established back in June — roughly $75/tonne below comparable current offers. Was buying it the right move?

Josh explains why urea prices have been moving so aggressively, how China’s return to the export market is affecting global supply, and why India, Brazil and geopolitical uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz continue to create major volatility. They also discuss phosphate markets, global sulfur supply, the new CME urea futures contract and whether farmers should consider locking in fertilizer for 2027.

Plus, Ryan dives into the grain markets as harvest gets underway. Canola and wheat basis levels are beginning to improve, futures are moving higher, and buyers are showing more interest. Could the crop marketing environment be shifting from defensive to bullish?

In this episode: - Should farmers buy urea and fertilizer for 2027? - Josh Linville’s outlook for fertilizer prices - Why China’s fertilizer exports matter - India’s impact on global urea demand - Strait of Hormuz and global fertilizer supply risks - Phosphate and sulfur supply concerns - Using CME urea futures as a risk-management tool - Canola and wheat basis improvement - Why farmers should shop grain bids between elevators - Negotiating better canola basis levels - Third-party grain grading during harvest - Crop marketing strategies for the 2026 harvest

Subscribe to What The Futures for weekly conversations about crop marketing, grain prices, fertilizer markets and better farm business decisions. #Fertilizer #Urea #CropMarketing #Canola #GrainMarkets #Farming #Agriculture #CanadianAgriculture #Wheat #WhatTheFutures Listen to the show on the go.

https://open.spotify.com/show/3xz7OvO7P0WDW8mAx25L1y?si=bd51356530834599

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/what-the-futures/id1715185428

‍ Follow on Instagram and X for more market insights. https://www.instagram.com/whatthefuturespod/

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Email Ryan: [email protected]

What the Futures Podcast Website: https://www. whatthefuturespodcast.ca

Thanks to our Sponsors John Deere https://operationscenter.deere.com/

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Join the What the Futures Insiders private podcast:
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Crop Marketing Made Cool Conference:
December 1–2, Brandon, Manitoba
Use code UNHINGED to save $100.

This week, I share how one fuel decision saved our farm more than $27,000 and why it pays to look beyond the normal stuff when managing your cost of production.

I’m also joined by Alex Schoch from John Deere to talk about precision upgrades that can bring newer technology to equipment already sitting in your shed. Then, Saskatchewan Pulse Growers Chair Stu Lawrence joins me for a wide-ranging conversation about pulse production, global competition, trade with India and China, and what all of it could mean for Canadian growers.

Plus, we look at navigating a quiet August market, preparing for harvest pressure, and making sales based on your own cash flow and storage needs.  The best part? ....fun stories from the lemonade stand. 

Hit PLAY and join me in the UPL studio! 

Ryan Denis website, email list, Lunchbox Crew and conference:
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Join the What the Futures Insiders private podcast:
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Crop Marketing Made Cool Conference:
December 1–2, Brandon, Manitoba
Use code UNHINGED to save $100.

Canola futures have fallen about $50 per tonne from the recent high, spring wheat has failed again near $7.50, and harvest basis opportunities are beginning to appear across the Prairies.

In What the Futures Podcast Episode 136, Ryan Denis breaks down canola, wheat, barley and oat marketing, then talks August and harvest weather with Bret Walts of BAM Weather, Brett Young canola hybrids with Kyle Slobodian, and John Deere 8R and 9RX tractors with Carlton Self.

The episode also covers El Niño, hail risk, harvest lows and practical cash-flow decisions.

Ryan Denis website, email list, Lunchbox Crew and conference:
https://www.ryandenis.ca/

Join the What the Futures Insiders private podcast:
Email [email protected]

Crop Marketing Made Cool Conference:
December 1–2, Brandon, Manitoba
Use code UNHINGED to save $100.

On this episode of Cuppa Coffee from What the Futures, Ryan Denis and Brian Comeault break down the grain-market pullback and the marketing decisions farmers face before harvest. They cover canola prices, wheat hedging, malt barley demand, oats, yellow peas, crop conditions, market carry and strategies for protecting a price floor while retaining upside.

Brownlee’s Ag Tech:
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► John Deere Canada:
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On this episode of Cuppa Coffee from What the Futures Podcast, Ryan Denis opens with canola, soybeans, corn and wheat before joining Ben Zelle of John Deere live at Ag in Motion.

They break down the new C1450T and C1100T air carts, including the 1,460-bushel capacity, five-tank design, faster conveyor filling, Easy Lift, AccuRate meters, EasyCal, JDLink logistics, blockage detection and retrofit options.

LINKS & RESOURCES

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