Reuters – Canadian fertilizer maker Agrium Inc , the world’s biggest farm retailer, reported a bigger-than-expected quarterly loss as demand for its products was reduced by severe dry weather in Australia and Canada. The company cut its full-year forecast for earnings per share from continuing operations to between $4.65 and $4.80, from its previous estimate […] Read more

Agrium posts bigger-than-expected 3rd-qtr loss

Agrium sells U.S. plants to ease Potash Corp merger concerns
Winnipeg | Reuters – Canadian fertilizer producer and farm supplier Agrium Inc said on Tuesday it will sell its Idaho phosphate production facility for $100 million to fertilizer company Itafos, to address concerns of U.S. regulators about its merger with Potash Corp of Saskatchewan. Separately, Agrium will sell its North Bend, Ohio, nitric acid plant […] Read more

Cash ticket deferral option to remain unchanged
The federal government is leaving its deferred cash purchase ticket policy unchanged. When listed grains (wheat, oats, barley, rye, flax, canola, rapeseed) are delivered for payment at a licensed elevator, an elevator operator can issue either a cash purchase ticket or a deferred cash purchase ticket, payable in the year following the year in which […] Read more

Reports highlight strengths, weaknesses of Canadian ag exports
Commodity News Service Canada – There is room for improvement in the Canadian agricultural export market with competition from new markets globally, according to a pair of reports released by Farm Credit Canada. The FCC Ag Economics, Trade Ranking Report: Agriculture and FCC Ag Economics, Trade Ranking Report: Manufactured Food give overviews of Canada’s global […] Read more

Feds announce tax support for farmers
In a news release distributed today linked to Budget 2017, Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lawrence MacAulay announced tax relief to help farmers who received compensation under the Health of Animals Act from livestock destroyed due to the bovine tuberculosis outbreak in 2016 and 2017 in Alberta and Saskatchewan. The federal government also released its 2017 list of designated regions for livestock […] Read more

Mixed reactions from farm groups to Bill C-49 progress
Commodity News Service Canada – Western Canadian producer groups support changes to rail transportation in Canada but vary on support of the latest legislation, Bill C-49. Bill C-49 passed its third reading in the House of Commons Nov. 1 and is now off to the Senate for review. The bill is meant to amend the […] Read more

Canadian agricultural exporters urge Trans Pacific Partnership without U.S.
The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA), added its voice to the long list of Canadian agricultural exporters urging the federal government to achieve a trade deal with the 11 remaining Trans Pacific Partnership members. The planned summit in Vietnam next week represents a unique opportunity for Canada to take the forefront in negotiations as the […] Read more

Court ruling for Deere colours hinges on ‘confusion’
A court ruling strengthening Deere and Co.’s claim to the use of green and yellow on farm equipment in the U.S. centres on how likely farmers are to believe they’re looking at a Deere or Deere-approved product. In a 107-page ruling in October, following a five-day trial in June, the U.S. District Court at Paducah, […] Read more

CP conductors, engineers reject short-term deal
Unionized conductors and engineers at Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) have voted down a proposed one-year renewal of their collective agreement. The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, whose train and engine (T+E) unit represents about 3,050 Canadian conductors and engineers at CP, announced Wednesday its membership had voted 67.1 per cent against the extension. Negotiators with CP […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn rises to one-week high on exports
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures climbed to a one-week high on Thursday on bargain buying and improving export demand, although gains were limited by reports of higher-than-anticipated U.S. harvest yields. Soybeans rose for a second day and notched a two-week high as expectations of lower U.S. yields and rising demand from China supported […] Read more