Chicago | Reuters — U.S. spring wheat futures set a 5-1/2-month high on Friday, buoyed by expanding dryness in the northern Plains production belt, analysts said. Minneapolis Grain Exchange July spring wheat settled up five cents at $5.83-3/4 per bushel after reaching $5.90, the highest spot price since mid-January (all figures US$). The spot contract […] Read more
U.S. grains: Minneapolis wheat surges on northern Plains dryness
Federal food policy consultations underway
The long-discussed-and-debated notion of a public pan-Canadian food policy has taken a move forward with a new online survey from the federal government. Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay on Monday announced an initial round of consultations and called on the public to “share their input to help shape a food policy that will cover the entire […] Read more
Ontario watershed study shows overapplication of phosphorus
Farmers in one Huron County, Ont. watershed are applying almost exactly the nitrogen needed by their crops, but more than 30 per cent more phosphorus than is needed. University of Guelph researchers reached the conclusions by analyzing multiple years of data collected by the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority during in-person interviews with farmers in the […] Read more
Ontario minimum wage increases concern farmers
Changes to the way labour is regulated and paid for in Ontario will have detrimental effects on farm profitability, say farm organizations. Premier Kathleen Wynne and Labour Minister Kevin Flynn announced the changes this week, outlining the proposed legislation after a review of the acts that govern labour in Ontario was completed. The largest impact […] Read more
Deere to buy German road construction firm
Reuters — Deere + Co. said on Thursday it would buy privately held German company Wirtgen Group for about US$4.88 billion to expand its road construction operations as it looks to cut down its dependence on its slowing farm business. Deere’s share rose 3.1 per cent to US$126.29 in premarket trading, and were set to […] Read more
U.S. grains: Winter wheat hits two-week lows, spring wheat rallies
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade soft red winter wheat futures and K.C. hard red winter futures dropped to two-week lows on Thursday as forecasts for dry conditions in key growing areas raised the prospect of a quick start to harvest for both crops. “We have got a little bit drier forecast,” said […] Read more
CONTEST CLOSED: Free to good home: Farm Progress Show tickets
Editor’s Note: Well, that escalated quickly. The contest is now closed; all our Farm Progress Show passes are now spoken for and will be in the mail shortly. If you’ve entered the contest and won tickets, expect to hear from us by email. If your entry arrived a little too late or if you’re just […] Read more
CBOT weekly outlook: Soybeans in danger of dropping below US$9
CNS Canada –– The Chicago Board of Trade soybean market is increasingly being weighed down as rain-stricken farmers switch out acres intended for corn into oilseeds. The July contract plunged 32.25 cents per bushel during the week ended Wednesday (all figures US$). “You can see the corn has already gained on beans a dime this […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn ends higher on lower-than-expected crop ratings
Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. corn futures rose about 1.4 per cent on Wednesday after the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s initial condition ratings for the crop fell below trade expectations. Nearby soybeans also closed firm while wheat turned lower toward the close, after spending most of the session higher. Chicago Board of Trade July corn […] Read more
Farmers wait for fertilizer prices to fall amid oversupply
CNS Canada — As more fertilizer plants are built around the world and U.S. corn acreage shrinks, the typical thinking holds that prices for urea and nitrogen should fall, but that hasn’t been the case so far for Canadian farmers. “They’re more on the steady side,” said Todd Lewis, president of the Agricultural Producers Association […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
