U.S. agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack says the United States is trying to regain its competitive edge in world agricultural markets.
Tag Archives transportation
Commodity Classic: U.S. fighting for market share says Vilsack
Competitive advantages from superior U.S. transportation have all but evaporated
Bolivia farm region blocks borders, grain transport in protests
Santa Cruz/La Paz | Reuters — Protesters in Bolivia’s farming region of Santa Cruz are blocking highways out of the province, threatening to snarl the domestic transport of grains and food, as anger simmers following the arrest of local governor Luis Camacho. The region, a stronghold of the conservative opposition to socialist President Luis Arce, […] Read more
Transport challenges continue to haunt agriculture sector
Labour shortages in the rail and trucking industries remain a major hurdle for the successful movement of products
Glacier FarmMedia – Shifting trade patterns and labour shortages are challenging the agricultural transportation sector, said a panel at Canada’s Farm Show last month. Two years of pandemic restrictions, followed by the Russian attack on Ukraine, are far different hurdles than the typical weather challenges. “This isn’t just a grain story. This is potash. This […] Read more
U.S. packer profit margins jumped 300 per cent during pandemic, economists say
Increased costs don't explain higher profits, White House advisors say
Washington | Reuters — Four of the biggest meat-processing companies, using their market power in the highly consolidated U.S. market to drive up meat prices and underpay farmers, have tripled their own net profit margins since the pandemic started, White House economics advisers said. Financial statements of the meat-processing companies — which control 55 to […] Read more
Canadian food security doesn’t look like it does in other countries
Accessibility to food is one thing — but resilience in production and processing is another
As some countries stockpile agricultural products, Canada continues to ship them out despite feed affordability concerns in parts of the country. Would investments in a stockpiled grain supply have helped what appears to be a developing food production crisis? As a leading exporter, however, the question for Canada should be different. A true food security […] Read more
Grain handler group seeks Vancouver port governance overhaul
The WGEA, whose members ship most of Western Canada's grain, complain the port is in a conflict of interest as both developer and regulator
Vancouver, Canada’s biggest port and the most important to Western Canada’s economy, needs major changes in how it operates, the Western Grain Elevator Association (WGEA) says. As a statutory monopoly the port authority is both a port developer and regulator putting it in a conflict of interest, according to WGEA executive director Wade Sobkowich. “We […] Read more
Trucks roll forward into the digital age
New regulations, but also drive for data create new options for trucks
As new federal driving-log policies for commercial vehicles are poised to take effect in June, some say there is an opportunity for digital monitoring tools to be expanded to the rest of the truck. Why it matters: Rigorous, readily accessible digital records can be more efficient and reliable than paper records. They can also be […] Read more
Breakthrough could make hydrogen vehicles more feasible
Science Notes: Less platinum generates more promise for fuel cells' potential
Only a few of the roughly one billion cars and trucks on global roads run on hydrogen. This could change after a breakthrough achieved by researchers at the University of Copenhagen, a new catalyst that can be used to produce cheaper and far more sustainable hydrogen powered vehicles. Hydrogen has held potential as an alternative […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Increased demand seen, but problems loom
MarketsFarm — Unlike other commodities, pulses aren’t yet feeling ill effects from an economic downturn due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, according to Marcos Mosnaim of Globeways Canada in Mississauga. With consumers panic-buying, there has been increased demand for pulses, as many are non-perishable, Mosnaim said. “These products will be there for ages,” he said, […] Read more
Look at other high speed rail options, say farmers
An organization opposed to the province’s high speed rail plan believes it has a good alternative for the province – high performance rail. High performance rail runs much faster than today’s passenger trains, but without the burden on farmland and rural communities of high speed rail. Why it matters: The province’s proposal to build an […] Read more