The property and casualty arm of Saskatchewan’s Crown insurance agency has set up a new unit zoned strictly agricultural. SGI Canada — the Regina-based property and casualty insurance provider which operates in tandem with the Saskatchewan Auto Fund, the Crown auto insurer — on Wednesday launched a new Farm Business Unit with “a specialized team […] Read more
Insurer SGI Canada sets up farm unit
U.S. hikes NAFTA tension with call for ‘sunset clause’
Arlington, Va. | Reuters — Washington has dramatically increased tensions in talks to renew the North American Free Trade Agreement by proposing that the lifespan of any new deal be limited to five years, people familiar with the negotiations said on Thursday. The proposal for a so-called sunset clause — just one of a series […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans jump after USDA cuts yield estimate
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybean futures jumped to a 2-1/2-month high on Thursday after the U.S. Department of Agriculture lowered its U.S. soybean yield estimate in a monthly report, bucking trade expectations for a slight increase. Corn futures followed soybeans higher, rallying after front-month December set a contract low, while wheat futures retreated. Chicago […] Read more
Metro plans automated distribution for Ontario
One of Canada’s biggest grocery chains plans to build new hubs to distribute both fresh and frozen foods to its Ontario stores. Quebec-based Metro Inc. said Wednesday it expects to put up $400 million to modernize and automate its Toronto operations between 2018 and 2023, building two new facilities for fresh and frozen food distribution […] Read more
CSX customers demand end to shipping bottlenecks
Reuters — The head of No. 3 U.S. railroad CSX promised on Wednesday to improve service as companies such as Cargill demanded greater accountability and fewer delays, criticizing an overhaul CSX launched six months ago. Customers have complained of longer transit times, unreliable switching operations, inefficient car routings and poor communications with CSX customer service. […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn, wheat hit one-month lows
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn and wheat futures fell to one-month lows on Wednesday, a day ahead of monthly U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that are expected to confirm big crops and plentiful global grain supplies, analysts said. Soybeans closed fractionally lower after a choppy session. Chicago Board of Trade December corn settled down […] Read more
Trump says U.S.-Canada trade deal possible, excluding Mexico
Washington | Reuters –– U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he would be open to a bilateral trade pact with Canada if a deal cannot be reached with Mexico to substantially revise the North American Free Trade Agreement. Asked by a reporter if he could envision maintaining free trade with Canada if NAFTA talks […] Read more
Farmers Edge expands satellite imagery offering
Farmers Edge says it’s making satellite imagery a practical and affordable agronomic tool for farmers through a new strategic partnership with Planet, the company with the largest fleet of Earth-imaging satellites. “We think this will be game-changing,” Farmers Edge president and CEO Wade Barnes said in an interview Oct. 3. “I think it’s going to […] Read more
Cargill expands food starch line-up in ‘clean label’ push
New York | Reuters — Global commodities trader Cargill said on Tuesday it will increase its offerings of starch product options, seeking to capture rising demand for simpler ingredients and to meet changing consumer tastes. The Minneapolis-based agribusiness will now sell new “native starches” produced from plants such as corn and wheat, as an alternative […] Read more
Trudeau to tell Trump: We’re not your problem at NAFTA
Ottawa | Reuters — When Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets President Donald Trump on Wednesday, he will try to persuade the U.S. leader to focus on Mexico as a source of potential problems at talks to update NAFTA. Although Trudeau officials were confident Trump would mostly target Mexico as the three nations started to […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
