The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, built in Norway in 2008, is the world’s largest secure seed storage site. (Matthias Heyde photo courtesy Government of Norway via Flickr)

Syrian war spurs first withdrawal from doomsday seed vault

Oslo | Reuters –– Syria’s civil war has prompted the first withdrawal of seeds from a “doomsday” vault built in an Arctic mountainside to safeguard global food supplies, officials said Monday. The seeds, including samples of wheat, barley and grasses suited to dry regions, have been requested by researchers elsewhere in the Middle East to […] Read more


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Prairie wheat bids dip slightly

CNS Canada — Cash wheat bids across Western Canada generally dropped lower during the week ended Friday. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat prices were up by C$1-$3 per tonne across the three Prairie provinces, according to price quotes from a cross-section of delivery points. Bids ranged from about $221 per tonne in southern […] Read more



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Wheat basis levels improve, futures stay bearish

CNS Canada –– Canada’s spring wheat basis has hit fresh highs to spur producer selling, but overall the market remains bearish. “It does seem kind of counterintuitive to see cash prices strengthening right during harvest,” said Brenda Tjaden Lepp, co-founder of FarmLink Marketing Solutions in Winnipeg. Over the past week, quoted basis levels for Canada […] Read more

(Country Guide file photo)

Prairie wheat bids climb higher

CNS Canada — Cash wheat bids across Western Canada posted solid gains during the week ended Friday, as U.S. futures recovered from their five-year lows and Canadian basis levels showed some improvement. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat prices were up by C$9 to $13 per tonne across the three Prairie provinces, according to […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Manitoba’s winter wheat seeding stalled

CNS Canada — Manitoba winter wheat seeding is underway, but farmers are facing some complications in areas where other crops aren’t out of the ground yet. Winter wheat seeding traditionally takes place from Aug. 15 to Sept. 15. “But it’s been a bit tricky this year,” said Jake Davidson, executive director at Winter Cereals Canada. […] Read more