MarketsFarm — Hard red spring wheat bids in Western Canada posted solid gains during the week ended Thursday, taking some direction from rising U.S. wheat futures. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS, 13. 5 per cent protein) wheat prices were up by $5-$7.50 per tonne, according to price quotes from a cross-section of delivery points […] Read more
Prairie cash wheat: Rising futures underpin bids
Teamsters seek charges against CP to cap working hours
Montreal/Toronto | Reuters — A union is taking the unusual step of pursuing contempt of court charges against Canada’s second-largest railroad, in a previously unreported case that escalates the debate over working hours for railroad employees, according to two sources and legal documents. The Teamsters union argued in court filings that Canadian Pacific Railway should […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans, corn rise as traders adjust positions
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean and corn futures ticked higher on Friday as traders adjusted positions ahead of the year-end holidays. Lingering uncertainty over demand prospects created by a U.S.-China trade deal hung over the markets. Crop prices increased after Washington and Beijing last week struck a ‘Phase One’ trade deal that includes a […] Read more
AAFC lowers canola ending stocks forecast
MarketsFarm — Canadian canola ending stocks will be much tighter than earlier thought, according to updated supply/demand tables which were released late Thursday by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and account for the latest production numbers from Statistics Canada. AAFC’s projected canola ending stocks for 2019-20 were lowered to 3.5 million tonnes, which compares with the […] Read more
Fraser: Bibeau buying time, BRM not a federal priority
The federal government is buying time when it comes to making drastic improvements to AgriStability and other business risk management (BRM) programs. Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau recently announced minor, cost-free tweaks to AgriStability, during the same week the public was given an updated look at Canada’s fiscal situation. That update shows the Liberal government’s […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soy futures ease on rains in South American forecasts
Reuters — U.S. soybean futures edged lower on Thursday, retreating from a five-week high touched earlier this week as traders expected rains to benefit rival suppliers in South America. Favourable crop weather could boost production in Argentina and Brazil, increasing global supplies and competition for export sales to buyers like China. Rains will ease dry […] Read more
Mosaic to cut fertilizer production as weather dampens demand
Reuters — Mosaic Co. said Thursday it will reduce fertilizer production until market conditions improve, as a difficult harvest season in North America has led to reduced fertilizer usage. Agricultural companies’ profits have been hammered this year due to an unusually cold and wet weather that has delayed planting season in North America, and lower […] Read more
U.S. House passes CUSMA
Washington | Reuters — The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday backed a new trade agreement with neighbouring Mexico and Canada in a 385-41 bipartisan vote, sending the NAFTA replacement measure to the Senate for consideration early in 2020. Democrats, who control the House, approved the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (CUSMA) more than a year after […] Read more
Grain groups give low marks to AgriStability tweaks
Ottawa — A recent meeting of the country’s agriculture ministers failed in providing effective support for farmers facing challenges, Grain Growers of Canada chair Jeff Nielsen says. Only minor changes were made to AgriStability, the main priority item on the agenda for the Ottawa meeting held Tuesday. Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and her provincial […] Read more
Saskatchewan to relocate ag extension office
The Saskatchewan government is set to make housemates of one of its crop insurance offices and one of its ag extension service sites east of Saskatoon. The province announced Wednesday it will relocate an existing agriculture extension services office from Watrous in March, moving it about 80 km north to the city of Humboldt. “We […] Read more
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