Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures fell for the second day in a row on Tuesday, pressured by improving weather for harvest in the U.S. Midwest as well as rain forecasts that will boost early crop development in Brazil, traders said. “We are leaking lower,” said Brian Rydlund, a broker at CHS Hedging. “We […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soy futures weaken on improving weather
Nitrogen looking cheap across Prairies
CNS Canada — Farmers in Manitoba may be looking to fill up on nitrogen fertilizer this fall as prices reach lows not seen in over a decade. “One retailer I talked to said it was the cheapest nitrogen prices in 15 years,” according to Dan Mazier, president of Keystone Agricultural Producers. Prices also seem to […] Read more
Tough U.S. NAFTA demands send ball back into lobbyists’ court
Arlington, Va. | Reuters — Lobbying efforts on the North American Free Trade Agreement faced a major test this week after the Trump administration ignored advice from U.S. business groups and pitched proposals to radically reshape NAFTA, leaving its future in doubt. The U.S. demands to force renegotiation of NAFTA every five years and reserve […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans drop below $10 on profit-taking
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures weakened on Monday, dipping below the US$10-per-bushel threshold the market hit for the first time in 2-1/2 months last week. “Soybeans are lower, giving back some of last week’s gains on profit taking,” Farm Futures analyst Bryce Knorr said in a note to clients. Soybean […] Read more
Loblaw cuts 500 jobs, plans to reinvest in e-commerce
Toronto | Reuters — Grocery chain Loblaw Co. Ltd. is cutting about 500 jobs across the company, and plans to reinvest the savings into digital and e-commerce services, the company said on Monday. The job cuts, which began on Monday and make up 0.25 per cent of the Toronto-based company’s workforce, will apply to executive […] Read more
Feds pledge lower small business tax rate
UPDATED, Oct. 16 — The federal government says it will cut the small business tax rate to nine per cent from 10.5, a move seen as an attempt to counter a growing backlash against its July tax reform announcement. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Finance Minister Bill Morneau appeared side-by-side in Toronto’s far suburbs to […] Read more
Ottawa threatens suit for Hudson Bay rail line repairs
The federal government says the owner of the Hudson Bay Railway has 30 days to get the washed-out line repaired and running or will face a lawsuit for breach of contract. Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr, the MP for the Manitoba riding of Winnipeg South Centre, said in a statement Friday that U.S. rail operator […] Read more
U.S. stance on autos sows more doubt about NAFTA overhaul
Arlington, Va. | Reuters — The Trump administration on Friday demanded that U.S.-made content account for half the value of the cars and trucks sold under the North American Free Trade Agreement, raising further doubts about any potential deal to renew the pact. Three sources briefed on the protectionist U.S. proposal, which is in line […] Read more
U.S. grains: Front-month soy tops US$10
New York | Reuters — U.S. spot soybean futures closed above US$10 a bushel on Friday, the highest in 2-1/2 months, on follow-through buying a day after the U.S. Department of Agriculture lowered its estimate of the U.S. average soy yield, analysts said. Corn futures rose on a bigger-than-expected weekly export sales tally and wheat […] Read more
Bunge shares jump on report of Glencore standstill agreement
Reuters — Shares of U.S. commodities trader Bunge surged on Friday after the Wall Street Journal reported that Glencore had a standstill agreement that temporarily prevents the Swiss company from making a hostile bid for Bunge. Bunge had rebuffed a takeover approach by Glencore in May. Speculation has swirled for months that Glencore would make […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
