What’s all the buzz about Food Freedom Day?

Feb 08, 2013

The scoop on Food Freedom Day in Canada

Have you heard someone mention something about Food Freedom Day and not really understood what all the excitement was about? Well, let me tell you – it is the day in each calendar year whereby the average Canadian will have earned enough money to pay their grocery bill for the entire year -- this year this noteworthy day is Thursday, February 14th, 2013.

What this means is that only 45 days into the New Year the majority of Canadians have earned enough money to buy their food for a year. The commemorative day gives Canadians an opportunity to be thankful for the food that we do have and to also assess the role that each one of us plays in our food system.

This year, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, the organization who coined the term, Food Freedom Day, is encouraging people to think of ways to reduce food waste in our homes. In 2009, food waste in this country amounted to $27 billion which translates to an average of $774.07 in food dollars wasted by every person.

Whether you are a primary producer or a consumer there are ways for you to join the Food Freedom Day discussion. Share why reducing food waste is important to you as primary producer, an individual, a family, organization or business by using the hash tag on Twitter: #ffd2013.

Video: Will the 2025 USDA December Crop Report Be a Market Mover/Surprise?

Historically, the USDA December crop report is a non-event or another dud report as the USDA reserves any final supply changes to the final report in January of the following year in this case 2026. But after the longest U.S. government shutdown in history at 43 days and no October crop report will they provide more data/surprise and make an exception?
Our China U.S. soybean purchase tracker is now at 26.6% or a total of 3.2 mmt but for traders it’s taking too long to unfold.
The final Stats Canada production report was bearish canola and wheat projection a record crop in both (it adds to the global glut of supplies) and bullish local corn and soybean prices in Ontario/Quebec thanks to a drought. It will not help the fund flow short-term, the USDA may need to offset it?
A U.S. Fed interest rate cut of another 25-basis point next Wednesday (probability 87.1%) could help fund flow and sentiment in stock and ag commodities into year end.
More inflows into Bitcoin this past week saw prices rebound back above 90,000 with support at 82,000 and resistance at 96,000.
A V-shaped bottom in cattle suggest the lows are in after Mexico reported another new world screwworm case. Lower weights, seasonal demand and higher U.S. beef select/choice values with a continued closure of the Mexican border to cattle will result in a resumption of higher cattle futures into yearend.
Australia is expected to produce its 3rd largest wheat crop ever at 36 mmt adding to the global glut of supplies.
Reports of ASF in hogs in Spain the largest pork exporter in Europe could see the U.S. win more pork export business long-term.
If the rains verify into next week of 3-5 inches for Brazil it would go a long way to fixing the dry regions from the last 2-months, but the European weather model has been wrong for the past 2-months!
Natural gas futures are surging to the 3rd price count as frigid hold temps set in.
CDN $ is also surging to end the week on a very resilient economy and better employment numbers suggesting no interest rate cuts next week.
Finally, the CFTC report showed funds were net buyers of soybeans but sellers of corn, canola and wheat. In real time the funds have gone back to selling as they take some profits.