(Resource News International) — Extremely cold temperatures, high winds and huge snow accumulations across Canada have caused only a minor slowdown in the movement of rail cars filled with grain and oilseeds to export positions, industry sources said. Temperatures across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba have been in the -25° to -32°C range, with wind chills […] Read more
Lousy weather slows grain traffic, slightly
High fertilizer costs foster outside imports
(Resource News International) — Frustrated by domestic fertilizer prices, producers and producer groups continue to take it upon themselves to seek out cheaper alternatives, such as from the U.S. and overseas. “There have already been a number of producer groups and some private individuals who have successfully and unsuccessfully sought out cheaper foreign fertilizer to […] Read more
Increased crop taken in stride, but timing a surprise
(Resource News International) — Higher crop production numbers in Statistics Canada’s latest crop production report were not unexpected. What’s surprising was that the government agency was willing to raise the numbers significantly at one time, rather than over a gradual period of time, market participants said. “‘Stunning’ is a word I would use,” said Tony […] Read more
CWB starts running grain early to East Coast
(Resource News International) — The Canadian Wheat Board reports it’s begun the movement of board grains to its East Coast transfer elevators early, to take advantage of unexpected laker vessel availability. Normally, the CWB implements a winter rail program to transport board grains from Western Canada and already-stored supplies at Thunder Bay, Ont. to eastern […] Read more
Rain, snow delay Ont. corn harvest
(Resource News International) — The harvest of corn in Ontario may currently be stalled by rain and snow but the quality and size of the crop have turned out much better than anticipated, according to an official with the Ontario Corn Producers Association. “I would estimate that roughly 75 to 80 per cent of the […] Read more
Ontario soybean yields above average
(Resource News International) — Soybean yields in Ontario are believed to be the second highest on record due to good moisture and timely heat during the growing season. “Average soybean yields in the province during 2008 were in the 43.0 bushel an acre range,” said Horst Bohner, a soybean specialist with the Ontario Ministry of […] Read more
Soybean processor’s expansion plans on hold
(Resource News International) — Expansion considerations for Jordan Mills Inc.’s soybean processor in Manitoba have been postponed due to the uncertain economic climate and the weakening of the Canadian dollar, according to an official with the company. Riding the wave of increased soybean production in Manitoba, the Jordan Mills facility south of Carman, about 80 […] Read more
Weak loonie helps, COOL hinders meat exports
(Resource News International) — Canada’s exports of pork and beef have been helped along by devaluation in the Canadian dollar, but the recent implementation of the U.S. government’s mandatory country-of-origin labelling (COOL) has negated some of the benefits, according to industry participants. “Canada’s pork and beef producers get paid in Canadian dollars and because all […] Read more
Ont. winter wheat acres drop less than expected
(Resource News International) — Acres seeded to winter wheat in Ontario during the fall of 2008 are expected to be down from the record level seen during the fall of 2007, but will still be the third highest on record. “There were roughly 950,000 acres of land seeded to winter wheat in Ontario in the […] Read more
Canola still a bit player in U.S. biodiesel
(Resource News International) — Limited U.S. production of canola and an abundance of other feedstocks appear to continue to restrict canola’s use in the U.S. biodiesel sector. Premiums being offered for canola oil in the U.S. food sector are absorbing the available supply from Canada as well, industry sources report. Soyoil and animal fats continues […] Read more
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