At the table with artificial intelligence, big data, advanced manufacturing and ocean-based energy, Prairie pulse, oilseed and cereal crops are in for a share of federal support to spur innovation in Canada. Innovation, Science and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains on Thursday announced Protein Industries Canada (PIC) as one of five “superclusters” which will receive […] Read more
Plant protein supercluster makes cut for federal funding
G3 co-owner SALIC looking at Iraq farmland
Dubai | Reuters –– The Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company (SALIC) is looking at more farmland investment opportunities and has its neighbour Iraq on the list. SALIC, an arm of the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), said it was also looking to expand its investments in the Black Sea region, which already includes almost […] Read more
Ontario, Canada sign $1.5 billion CAP agreement
The Canadian and Ontario governments have signed an agreement that will see $1.5 billion of Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) money available to be spent in the province. Ontario Agriculture Minister Jeff Leal said the five-year program will start April 3, which, he added, will mean a seamless transition between the current federal-provincial agriculture and food […] Read more
Bayer petitions Russian antitrust watchdog for more time in Monsanto case
Frankfurt/Moscow | Reuters — Bayer has taken Russia’s competition regulator to court over the watchdog’s investigation into the company’s planned takeover of Monsanto, a further hiccup in the US$64 billion deal amid intense antitrust scrutiny. A Bayer spokesman said the German company was petitioning the court in Russia to be given more time to discuss […] Read more
U.S. grains: Argentine weather underpins corn, soy
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn and soybean futures firmed on Wednesday, stabilizing near recent highs on persistent concerns about dry weather in Argentina hurting crops as they pass through key stages of development, traders said. Corn’s gains were limited as the rally stalled out at the six-month high hit on Tuesday. Soybeans rose to […] Read more
Bunge board backs management after earnings miss, CEO says
Chicago | Reuters — Agricultural merchant Bunge reported a worse-than-expected loss for the fourth quarter on Wednesday, the latest in a string of poor results that has left the company’s management fending off takeover bids from rivals. Several years of abundant grains supply on global markets have made it tough for Bunge and its rivals […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soymeal rally lifts soybean futures
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures rose to a 10-week high on Tuesday, lifted by a surging soymeal market as dry weather in Argentina threatened to reduce crop yields from that key South American supplier, traders said. Wheat futures dropped as a rally fizzled after prices hit six-month highs. Corn futures, which traded both […] Read more
Farmers Edge to use data to edge into insurance sector
Farmers Edge has signed a four-year agreement with global reinsurance company PartnerRe to bring precision farming technology together with ag insurance. Under the agreement announced this week, the two companies plan to work together to develop new insurance products for the agricultural market. While Canadian farmers have access to government-run, subsidized crop insurance programs, as […] Read more
Mapping profit can drive precision-farming decisions
Precision farming can find the high yield and low yield, high fertility and low fertility areas of a farm, but the missing link has been how that ties to profitability. Why it matters: The capacity to apply nutrients variably across a crop field isn’t new, but it’s been difficult for farmers to see the justification of […] Read more
Farmers encouraged to make Agriculture Day meme-able
Canada’s farmers are being urged to make closer connections with the country’s non-farming consumers, in both the real world and cyberspace, as Canada’s Agriculture Day nears. Spearheaded by the year-round industry-backed initiative Agriculture More Than Ever, Canada’s Agriculture Day is set this year for Tuesday (Feb. 13). “It’s a time to showcase all of the […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
