Chicago | Reuters — The earliest reports from the start of the U.S. hard red winter wheat harvest underscored industry fears of a second straight year of low protein, a factor that shifts the market’s focus to prospects for the North American spring wheat crop, a higher-protein variety. “It’s probably a foregone conclusion at this […] Read more
Cereals
Early U.S. winter wheat harvest supports low-protein fears
Greig: Farmer trust key to big data’s future
The marketplace for precision agriculture technology is sorting itself out, but it still has a way to go before it will be mature and have predictable uses for farmers, says a U.S. agriculture economist. Dr. Keith Coble, chair of the Mississippi State University’s department of agricultural economics, says we’re in the “overexuberance” phase of technology […] Read more
Deal reached to avert CN strike, union head says
Montreal/Ottawa | Reuters — Canadian National Railway and a union representing 3,000 conductors on Monday reached an agreement in principle ahead of a looming strike deadline at Canada’s largest railroad, said a top union official. The union had set a strike deadline of Tuesday at 4 a.m. ET after the railroad announced new work rules […] Read more
CN’s conductors serve strike notice
The unit of the Teamsters representing Canadian National Railway’s (CN) conductors and yard operations staff has served notice that its members may be walking the line come Tuesday morning. Montreal-based CN said Saturday it had received 72-hour strike notice from the conductors’ unit of the Teamsters Canadian Rail Conference (TCRC), putting the unit in strike […] Read more
Flour recall widened to products from 11 loads of wheat
The maker of Robin Hood and other brands of flour is further widening a major product recall to cover products made from 11 loads of Canadian wheat. Ardent Mills and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) on Saturday announced an expanded nationwide recall to include more varieties and sizes of Robin Hood, Golden Temple, Purity, […] Read more
Glencore seen paying up to US$6 billion in possible Bunge deal
London | Reuters –– Miner and trader Glencore may pay up to US$6 billion in cash in a possible tie-up with U.S. grains trader Bunge based on current valuations, Moody’s ratings agency said on Friday, but said it did not expect an outright acquisition. Glencore said this week it had made an informal approach to […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soy slips to 13-month low
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures fell to a 13-month low on Friday while corn and wheat each gained more than one per cent on spreading and position squaring ahead of a three-day weekend, traders and analysts said. Some traders sold soybeans and bought corn as wet weather in the Midwestern crop belt was […] Read more
Stats from 2016 show uptick in net farm income
Statistics show slightly lower costs for fertilizer, fuel and cattle and calf purchases in 2016, against higher crop sales and program payments, led to a rise in realized net farm income last year. Statistics Canada on Wednesday released data showing Canadian producers’ realized net farm income — the difference between cash receipts and operating expenses, […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans fall on oil drop
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures fell to a 1-1/2-month low on Thursday, pressured by a sharp drop in crude oil prices, traders said. Corn futures also weakened, with investors beating down early rally attempts due to ample global supplies and signs of poor export demand. Wheat futures were mixed, with K.C. hard red […] Read more
New Alberta labour standards for paid farm workers tabled
Waged farm workers in Alberta will be allowed to unionize and get new rules governing vacation pay and youth employment, under a provincial labour bill tabled Wednesday. The new rules are tucked into Bill 17, the Fair and Family-friendly Workplaces Act, which went through first reading Wednesday and, if passed, would take effect Jan. 1, […] Read more
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