(Video screengrab from Alberta Agriculture and Forestry via YouTube)

Federal fund, Alberta government back irrigation upgrades

Infrastructure Bank lends cash for system improvements

Eight irrigation districts in Alberta are set to tap into the Canada Infrastructure Bank’s new $1.5 billion pool of funding earmarked for irrigation, to receive loans worth about $407.5 million. The Alberta and federal governments on Friday announced a total investment of $815 million — including repayable CIB funds, provincial support and irrigation district contributions […] Read more

Violife’s vegan cheese-substitute lines include cheddar-style slices. (ViolifeFoods.com)

Becel maker Upfield to relocate Ontario plant

Company to make vegan cheese substitutes, other spreads at Brantford

The maker of Becel margarine, Imperial spreads and, most recently, vegan near-cheese Violife plans to boost its Canadian manufacturing capacity with a move from Toronto to Brantford, Ont. The Canadian arm of Amsterdam-based Upfield said Wednesday it has bought a 164,000-square foot industrial building at Brantford and “brings a significant investment involving the purchase of […] Read more


CBOT November 2020 soybeans with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybean futures hit 2018 highs as supplies tighten

USDA cuts domestic soy ending stocks; traders expect more demand from China

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures surged to their highest prices since March 2018 after the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Friday said inventories will dwindle to a five-year low. Corn futures advanced to a one-year high, while wheat futures slumped in a setback from a five-year high reached on Thursday. […] Read more

The USDA building in Washington, D.C. (Art Wager/iStock/Getty Images)

USDA’s WASDE bullish for soy, corn, wheat

MarketsFarm — The October world agricultural supply and demand estimates (WASDE) from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) shows lower U.S. ending stocks for soybeans, corn and wheat. Projected U.S. soybean ending stocks for 2020-21 were lowered to 290 million bushels from last month’s projection of 460 million. Last year, carryout stocks were at 523 […] Read more



An ammonia and nitrogen fertilizer plant in Russia. (Saoirse_2010/iStock/Getty Images)

Fertilizer use fuelling climate-warming nitrous oxide emissions, study says

London | Reuters — Rising use of nitrogen-based fertilizers is driving up global emissions of nitrous oxide, a lesser-known greenhouse gas, complicating efforts to limit climate change, scientists reported in a study on Wednesday. Most of the focus in curbing climate-warming gas emissions has focused on the most abundant, carbon dioxide, and one of the […] Read more


ICE November 2020 canola with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: ‘Demand-pull’ environment supports canola

MarketsFarm — ICE Futures canola contracts moved higher during the week ended Wednesday, moving back toward the contract highs hit in September. Canola is pushing upside chart limits and modest corrections are likely going forward, but the fundamentals remain supportive and “the trend is up until further notice,” said analyst Mike Jubinville of MarketsFarm Pro. […] Read more

U.S. grains: Wheat, soy futures hit multi-year highs

U.S. grains: Wheat, soy futures hit multi-year highs

Dry weather in U.S., Russia, Argentina supports wheat prices; soybeans, corn rise as Brazil also dry for planting

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat and soybean futures soared to multi-year highs on Wednesday as unfavourable weather threatened production in exporting countries. Dryness has raised concerns among traders about the prospects for wheat planting in the U.S. Plains and the Black Sea region and for soybean planting in Brazil. Weather in the southern U.S. […] Read more


(iStock/Getty Images Plus)

Second Seeds Canada merger vote to proceed sans CSGA

Seed Growers membership had voted against amalgamation deal

A proposal to combine Canada’s seed industry groups into a single organization, to be dubbed Seeds Canada, will be subject to a new vote, this time with one less group on board. The Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA), Canadian Plant Technology Agency (CPTA); Commercial Seed Analysts Association of Canada (CSAAC) and Canadian Seed Institute announced […] Read more

CBOT December 2020 wheat with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Dry weather pushes CBOT wheat, soy to multi-year peaks

Chicago corn also rallies

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat and soybean futures jumped to multi-year highs on Tuesday, supported by concerns about dry weather in key production areas, traders said. Corn futures hit their highest level in 8-1/2 months, joining in the rally as the U.S. harvest pace fell below expectations despite ideal weather for field work. But […] Read more