MarketsFarm — Equity in Canada’s farm sector increased by 3.6 per cent in 2018, hitting $522.2 billion, according to a report Thursday from Statistics Canada. The growth was well below the 6.4 per cent increase reported the previous year, and continued a trend of slower growth since 2013. Realized net farm income was down by […] Read more
Farm equity growth slows in 2018
U.S. grains: Rains fuel crop worries, lift corn, soy, wheat
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. grain and soybean futures jumped on Thursday as expectations for more rain in the U.S. Midwest heightened worries about bad weather reducing autumn harvests. Forecasts called for rain over the next five days, which would keep some fields too wet to plant and add stress to planted crops that are […] Read more
Canada opens probe into GM pickups, SUVs over brake performance
Reuters — Transport Canada, the auto safety regulator, has opened a probe into braking issues in nearly 250,000 General Motors full-size pickups and SUVs after U.S. officials launched a similar probe last year, the agency said on its website. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in November into 2.73 million U.S. 2014-2016 model […] Read more
Tories’ climate plan focused on green investment
The federal Conservatives’ proposed replacement for the Liberal government’s framework on climate change offers several shout-outs to farmers, in a document focused on green investment rather than current consumption patterns. The lead opposition party’s plan, launched Wednesday by leader Andrew Scheer, proposes to scrap the Trudeau government’s current carbon pricing plan, which imposes levies on […] Read more
Mexico becomes first country to ratify USMCA deal
Mexico City | Reuters — Mexico on Wednesday became the first country to ratify the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) agreed late last year to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) at the behest of U.S. President Donald Trump. By a vote of 114 in favour to four against, Mexico’s Senate backed the trade […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn down second session after five-year high
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures fell about two per cent on Wednesday, sagging for a second straight session as an absence of fresh bullish news prompted investors to book profits after multi-year highs set this week. Soybean and wheat futures followed the weak trend, with a few analysts citing improving U.S. weather forecasts. […] Read more
Saskatchewan extends greenfeed seeding deadline
Saskatchewan farmers who still want to put in cereal crops for greenfeed with crop insurance coverage will get an extra couple of weeks to do so. Saskatchewan Crop Insurance on Wednesday announced an extension on the June 30 deadline for seeding crops for greenfeed, to July 15. Producers who have crop insurance will now be […] Read more
USMCA ratification bill amends Canada Grain Act
U.S. complaints that Canada discriminates against its wheat will be addressed, if Canadian legislation to ratify the updated North American Free Trade Agreement becomes law. Bill C-100, the implementing legislation for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), received first and second reading in the House of Commons May 29 and last Tuesday (June 11) respectively. It […] Read more
China, drought, debt shake Canadian farm finances
Winnipeg/Ottawa | Reuters — For years, the financial stability of Canadian farmers was the envy of their U.S. counterparts, but rising costs, drought and a dispute with China have weakened their bottom lines. Net incomes plunged last year, and that setback was followed in March by China’s halting purchases of canola, Canada’s biggest crop. Now […] Read more
Prairie drought reaches tipping point
MarketsFarm — The Prairie provinces have been under the influence of a large ridge of high pressure for a number of weeks, which has produced prolonged dryness with little precipitation. That high pressure system has pushed low-pressure, precipitation-carrying systems to the south, where the U.S. Midwest has already received significant rain. Environment Canada estimated the […] Read more
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