Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement warning of a Colorado low expected to hit southern Manitoba Christmas Day. “There is still some uncertainty, but models are in much better agreement at this time as to the track of this low pressure centre placing it over South Dakota late on Christmas Day (Sunday December […] Read more
Christmas storm watch
Agriculture and AgriFood Canada raises 2016-17 grain and oilseed ending stock projections
Winnipeg/CNS Canada – Ending stocks of Canada’s major grains and oilseeds are forecast to be slightly higher than earlier estimates, according to the latest supply and demand projections from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s market analysis division, released December 21. Total ending stocks for the major grains and oilseeds are expected to total 13.500 million tonnes by […] Read more
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada adjusts pulse-special crop tables
Winnipeg/CNS Canada – Carryout supplies of Canadian pulses and special crops at the end of the 2016-17 (Aug-Jul) crop year will be larger than earlier estimates, according to updated supply-demand estimates from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s market analysis division, released December 21. Total ending stocks of the major specialty and pulse crops for 2016-17 are […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans extend rebound on robust export demand
Chicago | Reuters -- U.S. soybean futures jumped on Friday, extending a rebound from 3-1/2-month lows hit earlier this week, as strong export demand offset supply pressure linked to bumper harvest prospects. Wheat futures also climbed while corn crept higher as the grain markets consolidated after falling to 10-year and near two-year lows, respectively, this[...]
Bayer secures loan facility to fund Monsanto bid
Reuters — German drugs and crop chemicals group Bayer, which has made a US$62 billion bid for U.S. seeds company Monsanto, has secured a 60 billion-euro (C$87.75 billion, or US$66.9 billion) loan facility, business journal Handelsblatt reported Thursday. The loan facility can be expanded up to 75 billion euros (C$109.68 billion, or US$83.62 billion), the German […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat drops on weather forecast
Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. wheat futures sank 3.2 per cent on Tuesday, on track for their biggest daily decline in four weeks as forecasts called for improving harvest conditions for the winter crop good weather for spring wheat development. “Drier weather begins to develop in the southern Plains starting this weekend to improve harvest […] Read more
Bayer confirms US$62 billion cash offer for Monsanto
Frankfurt | Reuters –– German drugs and chemicals group Bayer AG said it had made an offer to buy U.S. seeds company Monsanto for US$122 per share in cash, or a total value of $62 billion including debt, to create the world’s biggest agricultural supplier. Bayer said on Monday that the proposal made to Monsanto’s […] Read more
Rush for ag chem megadeals clogs regulatory path, worries farmers
Reuters — As Bayer joins the agricultural sector’s scramble to consolidate, its bid for Monsanto may be a tipping point for U.S. farmers, federal lawmakers and regulators concerned the tie-ups may harm the farm economy. If Monsanto accepts Bayer’s unsolicited offer, experts say, the deal would inevitably trigger a review by federal antitrust regulators. But […] Read more
U.N. experts find glyphosate unlikely to cause cancer
London | Reuters — The herbicide glyphosate, sold by Monsanto in its Roundup product and widely used in agriculture and by gardeners, is unlikely to cause cancer in people, according to a new safety review by United Nations health, agriculture and food experts. In a statement likely to intensify a row over its potential health […] Read more
Ontario’s curbs on neonics may protect bees but diminish crops
Winnipeg | Reuters -- Ontario's move to protect bees by reducing use of a pesticide seed treatment may diminish corn and soybean production, seed companies said on Wednesday. Beekeepers welcomed the move by Ontario, the first North American government to curb use of seed treated with neonicotinoids, which are used to kill insects that harm[...]
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