Not expecting federal grain transport reforms to take effect until this fall at the earliest, several Prairie grain grower groups want to see an extension of the previous government’s interim rules and penalties for railways in the meantime. A proposed “Transportation 2030” package of rail reforms, pledged last November by Transport Minister Marc Garneau, is […] Read more
Cereals
Extensions sought for interim grain freight measures
Cargill expects grain glut to last long time
Seoul | Reuters –– Commodity firm Cargill expects international grain markets to remain oversupplied for a long time due to bountiful harvests and a rise in storage, the head of the global commodity trader said on Friday. Bumper crops have flooded many markets, dragging on prices for grains and hitting profits at agribusiness giants including […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn inches higher on weather uncertainty
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures firmed on Friday on light short-covering ahead of the weekend and uncertainty about planting weather in the Midwest, analysts said, while soybeans and wheat closed modestly lower. Chicago Board of Trade July corn settled up 1-3/4 cents at $3.71 per bushel (all figures US$). July soybeans ended down […] Read more
Ag census logs more younger and female farm operators
While people age 55 and over still make up the fastest-growing segment of farmers in Canada, the latest Census of Agriculture shows slightly more producers under age 35 for the first time in five censuses. Statistics Canada’s 2016 Census of Agriculture, released Wednesday, counted 271,935 farm operators — that is, people who make management decisions […] Read more
Canada taps veteran negotiator to drive talks on NAFTA
Ottawa | Reuters –– Canada’s senior negotiator at talks to renew NAFTA will be the official who worked for years to push through a major free trade deal with Europe, two sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday. Steve Verheul faces another challenge as he deals with the U.S., which is threatening to walk […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soy, corn sag on technical selling
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures hit a 1-1/2-week low on Thursday, pressured by follow-through weakness after Wednesday’s poor technical close and some farmer selling, analysts said. Corn futures sagged as forecasts called for improving weather in the U.S. Midwest, where wet conditions have stalled planting in some areas. Wheat futures were modestly higher. […] Read more
As Italy seeks pasta labels, Canada worries about durum sales
Winnipeg/Rome | Reuters — Italy has this week formally asked the European Commission to allow it to require country-of-origin labels on pasta sold there, raising alarms for Canadian durum wheat exporters who fear the move will dampen sales. Italian Agriculture Minister Maurizio Martina said on Twitter on Monday that Italy had sent a decree to […] Read more
CBOT weekly outlook: Corn, soybeans poised for move upward
CNS Canada — Wet weather across much of the Midwest could be throwing a monkey wrench into the plans of U.S. corn farmers, according to a market-watcher. Scott Capinegro, president of Barrington Commodity Brokers in Barrington, Illinois, says much of the U.S. corn crop still has to go into the ground while some crops need […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn up on USDA world stocks view
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures rose about two per cent on Wednesday after the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s forecast for global inventories at the end of the 2017-18 marketing year fell below trade expectations. Soybean futures hit a six-week high after the USDA’s reports were released, buoyed by the government’s forecast for a […] Read more
B.C. ag minister, ag critic hang on in election
British Columbia’s incumbent agriculture minister and opposition agriculture critic have both held onto their seats in the legislature so far through the province’s harrowing election Tuesday. Complete results aren’t expected to be available until after the final count starting May 22, but preliminary results put the province’s governing Liberals in minority status with 43 of […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
