Are Farmers Finally in Control of the Grain Market..... Merchants Boxed In?

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?