Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures jumped nearly four per cent on Thursday and soybeans surged more than two per cent after the U.S. Department of Agriculture stunned traders by projecting a year-on-year decline in soybean plantings and a larger-than-expected drop in corn acres. Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures followed the firm trend, […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn, soy soar on bullish USDA plantings forecast
Senate hands back transport bill, with changes
Federal legislation sought by farm groups wanting improvements to rail service for the grain sector is on its way back from the Senate to the House of Commons. Senators on Thursday afternoon passed Bill C-49, the Transportation Modernization Act, on third reading — but with several amendments proposed Wednesday by the standing Senate committee on […] Read more
USDA sees soy, corn acreage falling as supplies hit record
Washington | Reuters — U.S. farmers will cut their plantings of both soybeans and corn this spring with supplies of both commodities at record highs, the U.S. Agriculture Department said on Thursday. Soybean plantings, despite the expected drop, will top corn acreage for the first time since 1983, USDA said. Wheat seedings will rise by […] Read more
Diagnosing small engine problems
Ah, springtime. Time to pull the yard equipment out of the back of the shed. And maybe that gas-powered auger is going to be needed soon to move seed or fertilizer. As Scott Garvey writes in Grainews, how much grief you’ll get from those small engines is going to depend on how they were put […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat hits two-month low
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures dipped to two-month lows on Wednesday as improving weather for developing crops in the drought-hit southern Plains put the focus back on ample world supplies, traders said. Corn and soybean futures closed lower after a choppy session as traders squared positions a day ahead of key U.S. planting […] Read more
U.S. optimistic about quick NAFTA deal, Canada more downbeat
Ottawa | Reuters — U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on Wednesday expressed optimism that talks to modify NAFTA could be wrapped up quickly, but a top Canadian official was more downbeat, saying much work remained. The U.S. wants to speed up the slow pace of negotiations on the US$1.2 trillion North American Free Trade Agreement, […] Read more
Get ready for drone sprayers
The use of drones in agriculture seems to gain a little more momentum every season. So far, the jobs they’ve been put to include taking NDVI images and crop scouting, among others. However, one Manitoba entrepreneur proposes that even with drones’ comparatively small payload capacity, aerial spraying may be a good fit for the technology. […] Read more
Canadian railways in catch-22 over crude shipment
Reuters — Canadian railway operators see a lucrative opportunity to transport more crude oil to the U.S. as a rise in output forces producers to find new routes to its southern neighbour. However, their need for long-term contracts and the pressure to move a surplus of grains in the country is making it hard to […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat down on better weather, positioning ahead of USDA
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures declined on Tuesday as rains in the Southern Plains breadbasket boosted prospects for the region’s drought-hit winter wheat crop, analysts said. Soybean futures fell while corn closed flat in light volume ahead of key data due this week from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The government was […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans hit one-week high as trade fears ease
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. grain and soybean futures touched one-week highs on Monday as fears eased that a trade war with China will take a bite out of crop exports. The markets ultimately closed lower on technical selling and profit-taking, analysts said. However, traders were breathing easier after China’s commerce ministry on Friday did […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
