Alberta’s farmed-commodity commissions may soon be able to make their checkoffs non-refundable again if their producer members are willing. The provincial government on Tuesday tabled amendments to the Marketing of Agricultural Products Act (MAPA) which would grant each of the province’s 13 agricultural commissions the ability to determine whether their checkoffs should be refundable or […] Read more
Cereals
Alberta to restore non-refundable checkoff option
Manitoba pulls less-loved ag tax credits in budget
More funding for agriculture innovation in Manitoba’s latest provincial budget will be offset in part by an immediate end for several of the less popular tax credits available for farm use. Provincial Finance Minister Cameron Friesen on Tuesday laid out a 2017-18 budget with an overall $840 million deficit, based on a four per cent […] Read more
Brandt buys Saskatoon power generating equipment plant
Tractor and equipment manufacturer Brandt expects to double its manufacturing footprint — and expand into new equipment lines — after closing a deal for a major Saskatchewan plant site specializing in power generation machinery. The Regina-based company on Friday announced it had closed its deal to buy the former Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Canada facility […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn firms on short-covering
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures climbed about two per cent on Monday on short-covering ahead of the Midwest planting season and chart-based buying, analysts said. Wheat futures were also higher on short-covering while soybeans closed almost flat, retreating from early advances. Chicago Board of Trade May corn settled up 7-1/2 cents at $3.67 […] Read more
FCC sees increase in Canadian farmland values slowing
Farmland values in Canada, on average, appreciated in 2016 — and while it was less of an increase than the year before, the gain easily beat a bank GIC. Land prices here in Manitoba, which have been rising steadily since 1992, on average gained 12 per cent in both 2015 and 2014. But after four […] Read more
Talks wrap on new Canadian internal trade deal
Farm groups across Canada expect a new interprovincial trade agreement to clear paths for more trade in Canadian-grown agrifood and other farmed products within the country, reducing the need for imports. Federal, provincial and territorial ministers on Friday announced they’ve concluded talks on a new Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), which on July 1 will […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn sags, soy posts longest weekly skid in 30 months
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures drifted to a one-week low on Friday as traders adjusted positions ahead of a monthly U.S. government report that analysts expect to show rising grain inventories and big South American crops. Soybeans closed narrowly mixed but the most-active contract posted a fifth weekly decline, its longest losing streak […] Read more
Jaylor to buy U.S. TMR mixer manufacturer
Southern Ontario feed mixer manufacturer Jaylor plans to expand its total mixed ration (TMR) product lineup by buying a U.S. competitor. Jaylor, based at Orton, Ont., about 30 km north of Guelph, announced Wednesday it has bought a controlling stake in Colorado manufacturer MMI International, previously known as Mohrlang Manufacturing, for an undisclosed sum. “For […] Read more
Wireless providers ordered to set up alert system
Canada’s wireless providers have until April 2018 to set up wireless public alerting systems on LTE networks. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) on Thursday issued a directive to that effect to all wireless service providers. The alert system would allow emergency management officials to warn Canadians via mobile devices of “dangers to life […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat falls in thin trade
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures fell on Thursday on technical selling, hitting their lowest level since last week on a lack of supportive news and plentiful global inventories, analysts said. Corn and soybeans also sagged. Chicago Board of Trade May wheat settled down 6-1/2 cents at $4.23-1/4 per bushel (all figures US$). CBOT […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
