Just when you have a system that flows effectively across large volumes of a commodity, nature throws you a serious knuckleball. That’s the case this harvest season with corn, a normally easy-to-manage, reliable crop. This year, it has turned into a nightmare when it comes to logistics, marketing and operator safety. A good portion of […] Read more
Editorial: Corn mould levels unearth knowledge and testing gaps
U.S. grains: Soybeans strike post-harvest highs on trade truce
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures rallied to their highest since at least August on Monday, joining a broad rally in commodity and equity prices after Washington and Beijing sealed a truce in a trade war that has halted nearly all U.S. soy shipments to the world’s top importer. Soybean prices, however, set back […] Read more
Chinese firm buys stake in miner SQM from Nutrien
Santiago | Reuters — China’s Tianqi Lithium Corp. has bought a 23.77 per cent share in Chilean miner SQM from Canadian fertilizer giant Nutrien, the Chilean stock exchange said on Monday, for a total sale price of US$4.066 billion. The sale to Tianqi comes as Chinese companies increasingly scour the globe for the raw materials […] Read more
U.S. EPA lifts 2019 biofuels mandate
Washington | Reuters — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Friday lifted its annual blending mandate for advanced biofuels, drawing praise from the U.S. biofuels industry, but disappointment that the government had not done more to protect the agricultural market. Under the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard, oil refiners must blend increasing amounts of biofuels into […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat, soy, corn climb
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures rose about 1.5 per cent Friday on firming cash markets, analysts said, while soybeans and corn firmed ahead of hotly anticipated U.S.-China trade talks at this week’s G20 summit in Argentina. The G20 meeting is to include head-to-head discussions between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese counterpart Xi […] Read more
USMCA costs Canada sovereignty in ag policy, critics warn
Changes to Canadian dairy supply management in the final text of the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement give up oversight of the system to the U.S., Canada’s dairy farmer group warns. The trade deal, signed Friday in Buenos Aires by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, U.S. President Donald Trump and Mexico’s outgoing President Enrique Pena Nieto, now goes […] Read more
Fertilizer prices to rise on global production shifts
CNS Canada — Canadian fertilizer prices are expected to increase as spring draws nearer, according to industry professionals. “The further you buy out from spring, the prices tend to be a little bit lower. In making your commitments early, prices tend to edge up as you get closer to spring,” said Don Kitson of International […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans pause after two-day rise
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures eased on Thursday as traders booked profits after prices hit a near two-week high in the previous session, ahead of trade talks between Washington and Beijing at the G20 meeting. Wheat futures declined on lacklustre U.S. export sales while corn ended nearly unchanged. Chicago Board of Trade January […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Corn imports set to drop
CNS Canada — The market for feed grains in Western Canada is largely flat, but could change soon, according to one commodities trader. “I don’t know if I’m bearish or bullish. I’m kind of flat right now as a trader,” said Evan Peterson of JGL Commodities in Moose Jaw. Peterson said there are still large […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soy climbs on short-covering ahead of trade talks
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures rose on Wednesday on short-covering as investors waited to see if expected talks between Washington and Beijing at a G20 summit this week will defuse a trade dispute that has choked U.S. soybean exports to China. Corn and wheat followed the firm tone, drawing additional support from a […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
