New York | Reuters — The Trump administration will delay any moves to reform the nation’s biofuel policy for about three months, according to three sources briefed on the matter — a decision one of the sources said was meant to shield farmers worried about a potential trade war with China. The decision comes after […] Read more
Trump seen putting biofuel reform push on ice, for now
U.S. grains: Soybeans climb on USDA data
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures closed higher on Tuesday after the U.S. Department of Agriculture trimmed its forecast of U.S. 2017-18 soybean ending stocks in a monthly report, bucking trade expectations for an increase. Wheat closed modestly higher on technical buying and worries about poor weather in the U.S. Plains wheat belt, while […] Read more
Ontario organic grain buyer Homestead closing
One of the province’s leading organic retailers and buyers of organic grains will shut its doors Friday. Homestead Organics, founded and still run by organic driving force Tom Manley, will be sold off, likely in parts. The company said its Shakespeare, Ont. mill is in the process of being sold and will continue as an […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat soars on U.S. weather woes
Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. wheat futures surged nearly four per cent on Monday, nearing a one-month high as cold weather threatened to stress U.S. wheat already weakened by drought, traders said. Soybean futures rose on signs of fresh export demand and corn followed the firm trend, with wintry conditions in the Midwest adding to […] Read more
Bayer gets U.S. approval to buy Monsanto: report
Reuters — German drugs and pesticides group Bayer has reached a deal with the U.S. Justice Department for antitrust approval for its US$62.5 billion bid to acquire Monsanto by agreeing to sell additional assets, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday. The Justice Department reached an agreement in principle with the two companies in recent days, […] Read more
Mach Till added to Kinze implement line
Williamsburg, Iowa-based Kinze has long been known for its grain carts and planters. This year the brand is growing its product portfolio by adding the Mach Till high-speed tillage implement line. “Farmers will now be able to obtain three types of equipment from their Kinze dealer, all with the same standard of quality,” said Susanne […] Read more
No breakthrough at NAFTA talks, U.S. timeline could be in doubt
Washington/Ottawa | Reuters — The U.S., Mexico and Canada still have to resolve major issues around NAFTA, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Friday, casting doubt that the quick deal sought by Washington would materialize. Freeland met with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo for several hours on Friday […] Read more
Arysta plans market expansion in Western Canada
CNS Canada — Arysta LifeScience, a crop chemical company known in Western Canada for its line of Everest products, now wants to become a household name for Prairie farmers. Platform Specialty Products, Arysta’s parent company, last Aug. 24 announced plans to separate its agricultural solutions and performance solutions segments. Platform Specialty chairman Martin Franklin said […] Read more
CP conductors, engineers authorize strike
Montreal | Reuters — Canadian Pacific Railway conductors and locomotive engineers on Friday voted to authorize a strike action that could have the 3,000 workers walk off the job as early as April 21, Teamsters Canada said in a statement. The workers, whose collective agreement expired late last year, are asking for more predictable schedules […] Read more
U.S. lawmakers skeptical of promises to shield farmers from trade dispute
Overland Park, Kan. | Reuters — U.S. lawmakers and the farm industry were skeptical of the Trump administration’s promise to shield farmers from the rapidly escalating trade dispute between the U.S. and China, concerned about the lack of details in protecting the agricultural export sector now embroiled in the back-and-forth. Major farming states supported U.S. […] Read more
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