Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures rose on Thursday, rallying from early declines on short-covering and prospects for China to step up purchases of U.S. supplies as the U.S.-China Phase One deal goes into effect in days, traders said. But wheat and corn futures fell, pressured by a stronger U.S. dollar, worries about economic […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soy up on prospects for Chinese demand
U.S. dollar strength drags on wheat, corn
CN halts rail traffic in East due to protests
Grain groups seek dispute resolution or enforcement of court orders
Canadian National Railway (CN) is shutting down its Eastern Canada operations due to ongoing blockades on its rail lines in Ontario. The company announced Thursday it’s been “forced to initiate a disciplined and progressive shutdown” in the region, which means “stopping and safely securing all transcontinental trains across its Canadian network.” The decision “may imminently […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat rallies from near two-month low
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures rose on Wednesday, rebounding from a near two-month low with support from a broad rally in commodities and Wall Street equities tied to optimism that the coronavirus epidemic will be contained, traders said. Corn and soybean futures also advanced. Chicago Board of Trade March wheat settled up 5-1/2 […] Read more
Court orders big ag firms to hand over documents in antitrust probe
Ottawa | Reuters — A Canadian federal court has ordered a group of major agriculture companies to hand over records and communications in an antitrust probe sparked by allegations some businesses tried to block online farm-supply startup Farmers Business Network (FBN). In a series of court orders issued Tuesday, Federal Court Justice Denis Gascon said […] Read more
Grains sector backed to develop export rejection insurance
Code of practice for 'sustainable' crops also in works
The organization representing Canada’s crops sector will get public funding to develop an insurance plan against the “unpredictability” of export customers. Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau, speaking Wednesday at the CropConnect conference in Winnipeg, announced over $430,000 for the Canada Grains Council to develop a pilot insurance product for grain exporters. Such an insurance plan […] Read more
Hay and forage can help ease organic transition
A program in eastern Ontario aims to help farmers going through the three-year period before certification
Having a plan for making money from either hay or pasture can significantly ease the financial strain of transitioning from conventional to organic production. That was one message delivered by Semican seed company agronomist Valerie Yoder, during a presentation Jan. 25 at the annual Guelph Organic Conference. Why it matters: Certified organic crops offer a […] Read more
Sudan to continue to subsidize bread but with ‘justice’
Khartoum | Reuters — Sudan will continue to subsidize bread prices during transitional rule after Omar al-Bashir’s ouster but wants to achieve “justice” in distributing income supports, its trade and industry minister said on Wednesday. Bread shortages, caused by difficulties in raising hard currency to import wheat, triggered mass protests which — with the help […] Read more
Bunge profit tops estimates on South American results
Chicago | Reuters — Agricultural commodities trader Bunge reported a stronger-than-expected quarterly profit on Wednesday as rising crop prices boosted farmer sales in South America and swelled margins in its large agribusiness segment, sending shares up more than three per cent in pre-market trading. But uncertainty about global trade and demand for Bunge’s food and […] Read more
Alberta program to cost-share grain dryer upgrades
Applicants under previous FEAP plan eligible
Alberta plans to use federal and provincial funding to help grain growers cut the energy bills from grain drying with more fuel-efficient equipment. The provincial government on Friday announced what it’s dubbed the Efficient Grain Dryer Program, backed by $2 million from the Canadian Agricultural Partnership federal/provincial funding framework. Applicants can get 50 per cent […] Read more
CN could shut parts of network over pipeline protests
Reuters — Canadian National Railway said Tuesday it would be forced to shut down parts of its network unless rail line blockades in protest against a natural gas pipeline in British Columbia are removed. The protests of recent weeks are seen as a flashpoint for indigenous rights and reconciliation and demonstrators on Tuesday also blocked […] Read more
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