London | Reuters — Britain could join a formal trade alliance with the United States, Canada and Mexico if the European Union refuses to clinch a post-Brexit trade deal, the Daily Telegraph newspaper reported on Tuesday. The newspaper said British ministers were looking at joining the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) as part of […] Read more
Britain reported looking to NAFTA if Brexit deal fails
U.S. grains: Corn, soybeans, wheat end modestly lower
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn and soybean futures closed fractionally lower Tuesday on technical selling, bucking strength in other commodity markets, including crude oil. Wheat futures on the Chicago Board of Trade also fell, with the spot December contract hitting a four-week low as traders positioned for monthly U.S. government reports due Thursday. The […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat nears four-week low on weak export demand
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago wheat futures fell to a near four-week low on Monday on plentiful global inventories and weak demand for U.S. supplies, analysts said. Soybeans turned down after touching a two-week high and corn drifted lower on a day when U.S. government offices, including the Department of Agriculture, were closed for the […] Read more
K+S to pool salt, potash units amid overhaul
Berlin | Reuters — German minerals miner K+S plans to integrate its salt and potash units as part of a strategic overhaul, it said on Monday as it set itself a new profit target for 2030. K+S, the world’s largest salt producer and the fifth-largest seller of potash, is grappling with a slow recovery in […] Read more
B.C. Greens seek limits on foreign ownership of farmland
The party holding the balance of power in British Columbia’s legislature wants to curb foreign ownership of farmland in the province’s Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR). Green Party leader Andrew Weaver on Thursday introduced the Property Law Amendment Act as a private member’s bill, which he said “would prohibit foreign entities from purchasing ALR land over […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soy hits one-week top
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures climbed to a one-week high on Friday, buoyed by a light surge of buying in the closing minutes of trade following a dull, largely technical session, analysts said. Wheat and corn also closed with modest gains. Chicago Board of Trade November soybeans settled up four cents at $9.72-1/4 […] Read more
Mergers spawn expanded supply network for input dealers
A wholesale buying network set up by and for independent Prairie crop input retailers, against a rising tide of industry consolidation, is now growing through consolidation. The Prairie retailers, who in 2010 set up Grow Community of Independents to collectively build up their retail and agronomic offerings, are now independent members of a new entity, […] Read more
La Nina could return cold, snowy tradition to Prairies
CNS Canada — The world’s major weather forecasters predict a slightly better than 50 per cent chance that a La Nina weather pattern will occur this fall and winter. Most Prairie farmers could see good things happening if the system does materialize, because La Nina systems tend to bring what many people think of as […] Read more
Consultations close on tax planning proposals
Calls from farm groups and federal opposition politicians for further consultations on a proposed overhaul of the private corporation tax system have been shut down in the House of Commons. A motion Tuesday from Ontario Tory MP Pierre Poilievre, vice-chair of the Commons finance committee, calling for consultations to continue beyond their Monday deadline through […] Read more
EU set to delay vote on glyphosate
Brussels | Reuters — Health experts from European Union countries are expected to discuss whether or not to extend the licence for herbicide glyphosate at a meeting starting on Thursday, but will only vote on the issue later this year. The EU has been debating for two years whether to allow the herbicide, used in […] Read more
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