Mayo Schmidt, shown here speaking in Winnipeg in 2007, has “left his position” as Nutrien’s CEO and resigned from its board, the company said Jan. 4. (Dave Bedard file photo)

Nutrien makes surprise CEO switch again despite strong profits

Abrupt change 'mighty perplexing' to analysts

Reuters — Canada’s Nutrien, the world’s biggest fertilizer producer by capacity, surprised investors by replacing its chief executive on Tuesday for the second time in eight months, even as the company rakes in strong profits. Nutrien said in a statement it named Ken Seitz, the head of its potash business, as interim chief executive after […] Read more

Mike Shewchuk, Saskatchewan Seed Growers’ Association president, says the seed shortages generally affect crops across the board.

The great 2022 seed scramble

Book your seed and lock in prices as soon as possible, warn seed growers’ associations

To say 2021 wasn’t a very good year for seed growers in Western Canada is putting it lightly. The combination of drought conditions and unrelenting summer heat across much of the Prairies hurt seed production and has some farmers scrambling to secure the seed they need for the coming growing season. “It hit crops hard […] Read more


CBOT March 2022 soybeans (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, green and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soy climbs on South American weather

Corn also underpinned by weather, brisk demand

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybean futures ended higher on Monday, supported by risks of hot and dry weather for South American crops as they near harvest. Wheat fell, pressured by a stronger U.S. dollar, pulling corn lower. The most active soybeans contract on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) ended 16-1/4 cents higher at […] Read more






CBOT March 2022 soybeans (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, green and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybeans, corn extend rally

Dry South American weather stokes worries on crops; wheat prices move on technical trading

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybeans and corn extended gains on Monday to hit multi-month highs as dry and hot weather in South America stoked supply worries. Wheat rose early in the session, bolstered by hopes for greater export demand, but ended the day down on technical trading. Dealers said many market participants were still […] Read more

(File photo by Dave Bedard)

CN over, CP well under 2020-21 grain revenue caps

Railways moved record-level volume during year, CTA says

Coming off a record-level Prairie grain handle, Canadian National Railway’s $1.042 billion in 2020-21 Prairie grain revenue is set to be trimmed by about $2.52 million. The Canadian Transportation Agency on Wednesday released its determination that CN’s 2021-21 Prairie grain revenue of $1,044,909,345 came in $2,399,676 above its maximum revenue entitlement (MRE) for the year. […] Read more


CBOT March 2022 corn (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, orange and dark green lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn futures near six-month high

South America weather threats support U.S. soy, corn

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade corn futures neared a six-month high and soybean futures topped a four-month high on Thursday on concerns about unfavorable dryness and heat threatening South American crops, analysts said. Rain is not expected to bring much relief to southern Brazil, the world’s top soybean exporter, and Argentina in […] Read more