Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures fell to contract lows on Thursday and wheat futures slumped to the lowest level in 2 -1/2 months in tandem with tumbling equities and energy markets amid investor fears of the coronavirus outbreak developing into a pandemic. Soybeans fell to their lowest point in nine months but later […] Read more

U.S. grains: Corn, wheat tumble as coronavirus rattles investors
Soybeans up off nine-month low on Argentina export news

U.S. grains: Soybeans bounce on chance of Argentina export limits
Coronavirus fears remain anchor on commodities prices
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures on Wednesday extended a rebound from a sharp drop earlier this week as investors anticipated changes to Argentine export taxes that could reduce export competition from the major soy supplier. Corn and wheat futures eased on pressure from a firmer dollar, which creates headwinds for U.S. exports, and […] Read more

Pressure on for Bayer CEO to fix legal problems as chairman quits
Frankfurt | Reuters — The departure of Bayer chairman Werner Wenning will turn up the heat on CEO Werner Baumann to resolve the healthcare to agriculture group’s legal problems, two of the firm’s biggest German shareholders said on Wednesday. Bayer’s shares have plunged about a quarter in value since August 2018, when the company lost […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soybeans bounce, corn stabilizes
Warm winter, weaker Russian ruble drag on wheat
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures stabilized on Tuesday and soybean futures firmed in a mild recovery from the prior session’s steep drop on fears about the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. Wheat futures were mixed after posting fresh lows on technical selling and pressure from ample global supplies and stiff competition for U.S. […] Read more

Protestors put up new rail, road barricades in wake of arrests
Ottawa/Toronto | Reuters — Protesters in Canada blocked train lines, Vancouver’s port entrance and at least one highway on Tuesday in response to the arrest of 10 indigenous activists when police dismantled a rail barricade in southern Ontario a day earlier. Ontario Provincial Police on Monday arrested some of the Tyendinaga Mohawk campaigners who had […] Read more

Deere taps tractor-hailing tech in bid to break ground in Africa
Low incomes, lack of credit hobble African mechanization
Nanyuki, Kenya/Johannesburg | Reuters — It’s ride-hailing, farm style. Deere and Co. is teaming up with the “Uber of tractors” in Africa and betting on a future where farmers summon machines with the touch of a button. The world’s leading farm equipment maker is outfitting its tractors with startup Hello Tractor’s technology, which allows farmers […] Read more

U.S. grains: Corn, soy, wheat plunge on coronavirus worries
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. grain and soy futures tumbled on Monday as fears over the rapid spread of the coronavirus outbreak beyond China dragged down broader markets and underpinned the dollar. Technical selling further fuelled the drop, with corn and soybeans down nearly two per cent and wheat down almost three per cent. Corn […] Read more

La Coop federee set to go full Sollio
After gently getting the Canadian public used to the idea, one of the biggest agricultural co-operatives in the world is set to make its rebranding official. La Coop federee announced Monday it will officially present Sollio Cooperative Group as its “new identity” on Thursday during the organization’s annual general meeting in Montreal. The co-operative, ranked […] Read more

Editorial: National voices in agriculture sectors should be a priority
A national voice for each of the major agriculture sectors is important, but increasingly splinters have appeared in many areas, including grains, dairy and sheep. This has happened before, and unfortunately it happens during challenging times in the sector, when a national voice is most needed. Financial, trade and policy challenges have appeared more in […] Read more

OPP clear rail blockade, arrest 10
No word yet on when CN service through area will resume
Tyendinaga, Ont. | Reuters — Ontario Provincial Police on Monday made 10 arrests and cleared a rail blockade that had been stopping freight and passenger traffic for almost three weeks on one of the country’s busiest lines. OPP secured the area just east of Belleville, Ont., Canadian National Railway Co (CN) said, and CN technicians […] Read more