Cutworms. (Photo courtesy Canola Council of Canada)

Prairie growers on lookout as insects seize opportunity

Dry conditions, delayed seeding lift pest counts

MarketsFarm — With most Prairie growers’ newly seeded crops already up against dry conditions, growers remain on the lookout for insects which further threaten the health of those seedlings. Considering the high prices of many crops this season, the potential damage would be more costly. John Gavloski, entomologist for Manitoba Agriculture, said there is a […] Read more

ICE November 2021 canola (candlesticks) with 20-day moving average (green line) and July 2021 canola (yellow open/high/low/close). (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: Attention turns to new-crop canola

'Somebody's feet will be held to the fire'

MarketsFarm — Wide price swings in the nearby ICE Futures July canola contract over the past few weeks have sent most commercial trade into the new-crop November, with direction in the front month hard to predict given recent volatility. “Where (July canola) finally goes off the board, I have no idea, but I wouldn’t be […] Read more


CBOT July 2021 wheat (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, orange, green lines) and MGEX July 2021 wheat (black line). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat, soybeans plunge on fund selling

Chicago July corn flat

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean and wheat futures fell more than two per cent on Wednesday, with traders noting selling by investment funds as commodity contracts tumbled through key technical support points. The most-active corn futures ended unchanged, steadying after trading in negative territory for much of the session. Deferred contracts were slightly lower. […] Read more

A mayfly on water. (SBTheGreenMan/iStock/Getty Images)

Federal reprieve for imidacloprid cuts its application rates

Proposal for near-total ban rejected in Health Canada's final decision

A member of the neonicotinoid family of insesticides and seed treatments has been pulled back from the brink of an all-out ban in Health Canada’s final re-evaluation ruling. Most agricultural uses of imidacloprid — sold by Bayer under brands such as Gaucho, Merit and Admire, and by Adama under brands such as Alias and Sombrero […] Read more



CN locomotives in Winnipeg. (Photo courtesy CN)

CN shareholder urges changes to Kansas City Southern deal

Fund manager also holds stake in CP

Reuters — Billionaire hedge fund manager Chris Hohn on Tuesday urged Canadian National Railway to abandon its $33.6 billion bid for Kansas City Southern unless the Canadian railway changed its agreement to drop a key feature that could invite more regulatory scrutiny. Hohn’s TCI Fund Management, which has a 2.93 per cent stake in CN, […] Read more


CBOT July 2021 corn with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn up on another sale to China

CBOT wheat, soybeans fall

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures rose for the second day in a row on Tuesday, supported by strong export demand as well as concerns that forecasts for dry weather in parts of the U.S. could stress the recently seeded crop, traders said. Wheat and soybean futures weakened on a technical setback after failing […] Read more

MGEX July 2021 wheat with 20- and 100-day moving averages (orange, green lines) and CBOT July 2021 wheat (yellow line). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn and soy mixed, wheat down

Wheats lower on weather view for U.S. Plains

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean and corn futures closed mixed on Monday, with nearby contracts firming on support from tight supplies and strength in the cash market, while forecasts for warm weather that will boost crop development in the U.S. Midwest pressured new-crop issues, traders said. “The outlook warmed up for the Midwest over […] Read more


Barry Senft. (Supplied photo)

Ex-GFO CEO to manage Seeds Canada

Barry Senft to help build up merged seed-industry group

The four Canadian seed industry organizations now operating as Seeds Canada have named their first organizer-in-chief. Barry Senft, whose resume in Canadian agriculture includes stints as CEO for Grain Farmers of Ontario, executive director for the Canadian International Grains Institute, chief commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission and second vice-president for Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, becomes […] Read more

Brandon-Souris MP Larry Maguire speaks to Bill C-208 on Nov. 25 in the House of Commons. (Video screengrab from Parl.gc.ca)

Tory MP’s bill on farm transfer tax treatment moves ahead

Private member's bill now awaits Senate approval

A Manitoba Conservative MP’s bill to standardize the tax treatment for sales of farms and other small businesses has cleared the House of Commons and is en route to the Senate. Brandon-Souris MP Larry Maguire’s Bill C-208, which was introduced for first reading in February last year, passed third reading in the Commons on Wednesday. […] Read more