Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade soybean and wheat futures rose on Friday, supported by a pick-up in Chinese demand for U.S. commodities, traders said. But corn closed lower, giving up early gains with traders shrugging off a massive sale to China to focus on expectations for a weakened ethanol market as crude […] Read more
Cereals
U.S. grains: Wheat, soy rise after export deals
Corn sags on ethanol woes
Temporary foreign workers to be allowed in, Canada reiterates
Ottawa | Reuters — Canada will allow temporary foreign workers with valid visas to enter the country, officials said on Friday, offering possible salvation to the agriculture industry even as Ottawa moves to limit the spread of a coronavirus outbreak. Canada’s labour-strapped farms rely heavily on nearly 60,000 temporary foreign workers (TFWs) to help plant […] Read more
Distilleries make sanitizers to meet pandemic demand
COVID-19 sparks demand for hygiene products
Toronto | Reuters — Some Canadian distilleries and breweries have started producing hand sanitizers alongside alcoholic drinks as the rapid spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus stokes demand for hygiene products. The move comes after Health Canada this week relaxed rules on the sale of hand sanitizers, disinfectants and protective equipment on a temporary basis to […] Read more
U.S. grains: Recent declines stoke export interest
CBOT May corn, soy, wheat all rally
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn, soybean and wheat futures rallied on Thursday, supported by technical buying and hopes for a pick-up in export demand as recent price declines made U.S. supplies more attractive to overseas buyers. Corn was bouncing off the near 3-1/2-year low it hit on Wednesday after a rout in the energy […] Read more
GrainCorp’s global malting spinoff gets shareholders’ blessing
Canada Malting to go to new owner, United Malt Group
Shareholders in the Australian owner of Canada’s biggest malt company have voted nearly all in favour of a spinoff for their worldwide malting assets. During their general meeting Monday in Sydney, participating shareholders in GrainCorp voted over 99 per cent in favour of resolutions which will see the company’s malt business become a standalone ASX-listed […] Read more
Saskatchewan pares ag spending in estimates
Spending estimates released without revenue forecasts
Saskatchewan expects to pull back its spending on agriculture by about $22.4 million in its 2020-21 budget year, mainly in a reduced outlay on business risk management (BRM) programs. Provincial Finance Minister Donna Harpauer on Wednesday tabled the province’s 2020-21 spending estimates with the “unusual step” of not including revenue forecasts, citing the current COVID-19 […] Read more
Prairie elevators’ staff aim for on-site distancing
Cargill, P+H elevators stay open but with arm's-length approach
At least two Prairie grain handling firms plan to continue taking deliveries from farmers during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic — but to make the process as touchless as possible. Cargill, in a email to customers Wednesday, said its Canadian grain elevators, crush plants and ag input retail sites will remain open for deliveries and pickups, […] Read more
Take extra steps to keep farm workers safe during COVID-19
Add biosecurity practices, or ramp up the ones you already employ
Farmers concerned about the spread of COVID-19 can learn from the hog sector on the matter of protecting themselves and their workers, says a leading expert on biosecurity in the pork industry. “This is the world of biosecurity that the swine industry deals with on a daily basis,” said Dr. Egan Brockhoff, veterinarian counsellor for […] Read more
No Prairie farm fuel shortages expected in pandemic
Continuity plans in place to keep fuel moving
Prairie farmers shouldn’t see a disruption to their farm fuel distribution as a result of COVID-19 safety measures. “Our members are committed to minimizing disruptions to the Canadian fuel supply as a result of the pandemic response,” Canadian Fuels Association spokesperson Jason Vaillant said in an email. “Our members are working tirelessly to maintain operations […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn skids to lowest level since September 2016
Wheat, soybean futures rise
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures fell 2.2 per cent to their lowest level in 3-1/2 years on Wednesday, with falling prices for crude oil cutting into demand from the ethanol market, traders said. A crumbling cash market for corn added to the pressure in the futures contracts as dealers in the country slashed […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
