More accessible business risk management programming, more food inspectors and more detailed food labelling are among the federal New Democrats' farm policy planks leading up to a May 2 general election. NDP leader Jack Layton unveiled the party's election platform Sunday in Toronto, pledging a "Canadian Food Strategy that will combine health goals, environmental goals,[...]
NDP platform pledges lower-cost BRM programs
Greens call for ban on federal GMO research
A ban on federal research into genetically engineered crops, eventual 100 per cent testing of slaughter cattle for BSE and reducing allowable pesticide residues in crops are on the federal Green Party's policy wish list. Leader Elizabeth May released the party's platform Thursday at a press conference in Toronto, featuring a long list of farming-related[...]
Liberals vow to rework AgriFlex, review ag programs
The farming planks in the federal Liberals’ election platform include plans to review all federal ag programming and to reboot AgriFlexibility, but drew fire from an opponent for two absent words. The Liberals’ platform on rural issues, launched this week, makes no mention of the party’s previous commitment to protect Canada’s supply management system in […] Read more
Russia must make amends for grain ban: Putin
Russia must restore its credibility as a grain supplier after banning exports and sending grain prices soaring, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Wednesday. “I want to assure you we will do the utmost to remedy the situation on the grain market and to compensate supplies in the coming years and to restore our image as […] Read more
Rising prices may encourage more oats acres
Oats prices at both the Chicago Board of Trade and in Western Canada have rallied over the past week, which could help bring some more acres to the crop this spring. However, competition from other crops and weather issues at seeding time could still sway the market. After weather issues in Saskatchewan hampered Canadian production[...]
FNA launches Puma-like herbicide
Farmers of North America has unleashed its own entry in the cat-themed grassy weed herbicide market for wheat and barley growers. Saskatoon-based FNA, which brokers deals for lower-cost imports of ag inputs on members’ behalf in the West, Ontario and Quebec, said Wednesday its product HellCat will be available for its members this spring. A […] Read more
Cargill to shed ag retail space in SW Ont.
Cargill's Canadian arm plans to drop a crop input and grain facility it runs in southwestern Ontario and move to a "direct-to-farm" business model in the community. The company said Wednesday it won't renew its lease with landlord Huron Grain Ltd. at Greenway, Ont., about 50 km northwest of London. Cargill, starting July 1, will[...]
Attention in ICE canola turns to weather
ICE Futures Canada canola contracts edged have edged higher over the past week as wet conditions that could hamper spring seeding across much of Western Canada provided some underlying support. The weather issues are expected to continue to be a major factor in the trade moving forward. The release of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's[...]
CFIA to streamline feed ingredient approvals
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency plans to rework the approval process for livestock feed ingredients to get approved new products to market faster. The agency’s proposed changes to the federal Feeds Regulations would allow for the “immediate” manufacture or import and sale of a new feed ingredient, either as a feed by itself or in […] Read more
Drozd: Bull market in corn resumes after seasonal downturn
It appears the seasonal tendency for corn prices to move lower in March may be over, due to the bears being unable to push prices below an important line of support on the December 2011 futures contract. This is also the point at which a reversal pattern called a Harami materialized on the candlestick chart. […] Read more
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