Andre Corbould (centre), shown here briefing then-Governor General Michaelle Jean (r) in Whistler, B.C. during the 2010 Olympics, is Alberta’s new deputy agriculture minister. (GG.ca)

Alberta names new deputy ag minister

Alberta’s deputy provincial environment minister, a civil engineer and 28-year veteran of the Canadian Forces, has been named the province’s new top agriculture bureaucrat. Premier Rachel Notley on Tuesday put through an order in council appointing Andre Corbould as Alberta’s deputy minister of agriculture and forestry effective Wednesday, replacing Beverly Yee. Corbould, the province’s deputy […] Read more


(Valley Irrigation video screeengrab via YouTube)

‘Clean’ tech adoption up for federal funding

Provinces and territories can apply starting April 1 for chunks of a three-year, $25 million federal fund to support programs that encourage on-farm adoption of precision ag tools or use of renewables from ag waste. Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay on Monday launched the fund, to flow through what’s dubbed the Agricultural Clean Technology (ACT) […] Read more

Hard white winter wheat growing in North Carolina in 2010. (Dave Marshall photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

U.S. grains: Wheat rebounds after weather-driven selloff

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures firmed Thursday on bargain-buying a day after forecasts for much-needed moisture pressed the Kansas City May hard red winter wheat contract to a seven-week low, traders said. Corn futures closed modestly higher while soybeans ended mostly steady. Chicago Board of Trade May wheat futures settled up 2-1/4 cents […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Grain supply starting to dry up

CNS Canada –– As the winter ends, supply is getting tight for feed grains in Lethbridge’s feedlot alley. “We’re seeing a little bit of a pullback on prices on most commodities in anticipation for making sure everything gets out before road bans,” said Brandon Motz, sales manager at CorNine Commodities at Lacombe, Alta. The feed […] Read more


Photo: File

La Coop fédérée buys Cargill’s Ontario crop retail assets

La Coop fédérée will soon become a much bigger player in Ontario’s crop retail business. Cargill announced today that it will sell its grain and crop inputs retail assets in Ontario to La Coop fédérée. The deal includes Cargill’s 50 per cent ownership position in South West Ag Partners, which includes nine grain and crop […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Cargill selling Ontario grain, inputs businesses

Quebec agrifood co-operative La Coop federee is set to stake a larger claim in Ontario’s grain and crop input sector with a deal for Cargill’s assets there. Cargill’s Winnipeg-based Canadian arm announced Thursday it will sell its Ontario grain and crop input outlets and its joint-venture stake in South West Ag Partners to La Coop […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Nutrien)

Global fertilizer prices set to fall

CNS Canada — Global fertilizer demand has been higher, leading to increased prices, but with more capacity coming online prices should start to fall, according to an analyst. “Urea prices globally have moved a little higher over the past few months. They’ve been relatively volatile, that’s just kind of a function of some better than […] Read more


(Deere.ca)

Deere fears hit from Trump tariffs, retaliation

Granadero Baigorria, Argentina | Reuters — U.S. tractor maker Deere and Co. is bracing for a negative financial impact from U.S. tariffs on steel imports and worries that retaliatory tariffs on American agricultural exports could follow, CEO Samuel Allen told Reuters in an interview Wednesday. The 25 per cent tariffs, which U.S. President Donald Trump […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. grains: Wetter forecasts pressure K.C. wheat

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. hard red winter wheat futures fell to near two-month lows on Wednesday on forecasts of another round of beneficial showers next week in the southern Plains that could boost crop prospects, analysts said. Chicago Board of Trade soft red winter wheat rallied late in the session to end higher, while […] Read more