Moscow | Reuters — Russia will spend two billion roubles (C$43 million) in grain transportation subsidies to help to speed exports in 2018, the deputy agriculture minister said on Thursday. Already among the world’s largest wheat exporters, Russia is trying to step up a gear after this year’s record crop, which is keeping its grain […] Read more
Russia to boost grain transport subsidies in 2018
Ukraine’s parliament extends ban on farmland sales
Kiev | Reuters — The Ukrainian parliament voted on Thursday to extend a ban on the sale of agricultural land by one year, delaying what financial backers say is a key reform essential to Ukraine’s long-term economic growth. The bill was backed by 236 lawmakers, narrowly over the 226 required to pass. Currently Ukraine’s more […] Read more
U.S. grains: StatsCan data help drag wheat to contract lows
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures slid to contract lows on Thursday, their fourth straight day of declines, on continued pressure from a Canadian report that showed harvest in that country was bigger than expected. The decline in wheat weighed on corn prices. Soybeans also fell, pressured by a round of […] Read more
Maple Leaf buys further into ‘meat’ market
One of Canada’s biggest packaged meat companies is further expanding its space on the non-animal protein shelf with a deal for U.S. processor Field Roast Grain Meat. Maple Leaf Foods announced Nov. 30 it will pay US$120 million (C$153.9 million) for the Seattle-based company, which makes and markets premium grain-based “meat” and vegan cheese products. […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat, soy slump on technicals, commodities selloff
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. grain and soy prices fell on Wednesday, pressured by technical selling amid a broad downturn across many commodities as the dollar climbed. Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures eased from an earlier roughly four-month high while wheat futures declined for the third straight session, nearing their contract lows set in […] Read more
Canola stocks look less tight in StatsCan report
CNS Canada — Canadian farmers grew a record amount of canola in 2017, despite weather concerns, according to updated production estimates on Wednesday from Statistics Canada. The agency pegged production in 2017-18 at 21.3 million tonnes, up from the September estimate of 19.7 million and last year’s total of 19.6 million. The rise in production […] Read more
Winners of Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2017 celebrated
National winners for Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmer for 2017 were awarded on Dec. 1 to Derek & Tannis Axten of Axten Farms in Minton, Sask., and Véronique Bouchard & François Handfield of Ferme aux petits oignons at Mont-Tremblant, Que. “Once again, the seven regional finalists exceeded our expectations as innovative, forward thinking, young agricultural leaders. […] Read more
Saskatchewan to offer discount option on Crown land
Facing another rent hike in 2018, some Saskatchewan farmers leasing cultivated and “formerly cultivated” Crown land from the province are getting an option to buy the land instead at a 10 per cent discount. Provincial Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart on Tuesday announced a “targeted incentive” program aimed at about 1,100 eligible leaseholders, offering the 10 […] Read more
Nestle to buy Canadian nutrition firm Atrium
London | Reuters — Nestle is buying Canadian vitamin and nutritional supplement maker Atrium Innovations for US$2.3 billion, expanding its presence in consumer healthcare as it seeks to offset weakness in packaged foods. The world’s largest packaged food company said on Tuesday it will buy the maker of vitamins, probiotics and meal replacements from a […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans climb above $10 on Argentina weather woes
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures climbed one per cent on Tuesday, scrambling back above US$10 a bushel, amid ongoing worries about poor weather threatening yield prospects in Argentina. Corn futures ended fractionally higher while wheat futures sagged on sluggish export demand for U.S. supplies. Chicago Board of Trade January soybeans settled up 10 […] Read more
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