In the near term, Ontario wheat is trading at a premium, but that could change with new crop wheat closer to harvest.

South American new crop weighs on global markets

Ethanol plant closures in U.S. reduce demand for corn

World corn and soybean markets are under pressure due to favourable spring weather in the United States and strong competition from South America for export business. Weaker energy prices are also weighing on row crops. Quick look Soybeans: Ontario soybean crop is expected to drop by 100,000 acres. Corn: U.S. corn carryout is expected to […] Read more

Governments funding farmers’ move to online sales

Governments funding farmers’ move to online sales

Direct-to-consumer sales from farms has quickly moved digital

Many farmers have moved to marketing their food and plants through the internet and they now have the chance for government help to fund that transition. The Ontario and Canadian governments are investing $2.5 million the new Agri-Food Open for E-Business initiative through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP). Organizations and businesses can apply for a […] Read more

Ontario’s farmland value range. Note that not enough land exchanged hands to create reliable data from the further north regions of the province.

Ontario farmland values continue to jump

Nationally, the 2019 increase tied for the lowest in 10 years

Ontario led Canada’s major agriculture producing provinces in farm land value increases in 2019 according to Farm Credit Canada’s (FCC) annual summary of land sales across the country. The Maritime provinces led the increases with 22.6 per cent in Prince Edward Island and 17.2 per cent in New Brunswick. A 5.2 per cent increase across […] Read more

Protein First hopes to bring the plant and animal protein sectors together, but so far only the poultry industry has expressed interest.

Soy sector seeks protein ceasefire

‘Rock’em, sock’em’ environment needs to stop, says U.S. soy leadership

Glacier FarmMedia – The United Soybean Board is pushing for a truce in the protein war. The group has launched Protein First, a collaborative effort to work with the meat sector on boosting global demand for all types of protein. USB chief executive officer Polly Ruhland said the introduction of plant-based meat alternatives has created […] Read more

If gasoline consumption falls by 15 to 20 per cent over the next two months it could reduce 2019-20 corn consumption by 120 to 170 million bushels, according to Todd Hubbs, assistant professor of agricultural commodity markets at the University of Illinois.

Biofuels expect hard hit with reduced travel

Gasoline consumption decline could mean lower corn prices

Glacier FarmMedia – COVID-19 is expected to bring trouble to the biofuel sector and that is already depressing corn and other grain prices. “Biofuel producers are under desperate strain,” Emily Skor, chief executive officer of Growth Energy said in an email. “This is unlike anything we’ve seen before.” Why it matters: Ethanol has put a […] Read more


Founders of the RH Accelerator include Joe Dales, left, David Billson and Brian Foster.

A helping hand for agriculture and food start-ups

The RH Accelerator aims to provide mentorship and to help fund new agriculture businesses

Throughout his career, Joe Dales has had a passion for innovation, agriculture and bringing new tools to farmers. He caught the entrepreneurial bug in the early days of the internet, creating what today is Farms.com. Now he’s putting his network and years of experience to work helping early stage entrepreneurs get their ideas off the […] Read more

Slower shipments from Argentina due to COVID-19 testing and labour unrest at ports has helped boost soybean prices.

Commodity markets in uncharted risk territory due to COVID-19 concerns

Lower Canadian dollar has kept soybean and wheat prices up

World grain and oilseed markets are digesting logistical and fundamental changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic and historically low crude oil values. The risk environment is unprecedented; commodity merchants are in a “learn as you go” frame of mind because trading conditions are changing on a daily basis. Ontario soybean and wheat prices are up […] Read more

The opportunities are many, but the technical limitations to rolling out huge data speeds in rural areas remain daunting.

5G and the future of farming

The challenges of moving a new technology into rural areas could create new partnerships and opportunities

Users of the Samsung Galaxy S20 phone will be the first to have access to 5G technology in Canada. Rural residents and farmers will have to wait much longer – if the technology ever arrives. Rogers announced in early March that it is rolling out 5G networks in Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa and Montreal, with 20 […] Read more


Ideas conference goes virtual due to COVID-19

Alltech is making its large ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference a virtual event for 2020. The feed and inputs company hosts about 3,500 attendees from 70 countries in Kentucky for the conference each year to explore ideas and solutions for the global food supply chain. It is scheduled for May 17-19. “Our first priority remains […] Read more

Ontario corn and soybean prices are changing little, despite global forces buffeting markets.

Large global soybean supplies continue to weigh on prices

Late March USDA report expected to be bearish for corn, soybeans

Ontario wheat, corn and soybean prices have been somewhat immune to the meltdown in the world financial and commodity markets. Ontario corn and soybean prices are relatively unchanged from last month while wheat prices are down approximately 20 cents/bushel on average. The March Canadian dollar dropped to 72.67 U.S cents on March 9, the lowest […] Read more