Spring weight limits on trucks and other vehicles are coming into effect on certain roads in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The Nova Scotia transportation department on Thursday announced a maximum weight of 15 tonnes on gravel roads starting at noon Friday (Feb. 24) “until further notice.” “Unseasonably warm weather is softening gravel roads to […] Read more
New Brunswick, Nova Scotia impose spring weights
U.S. grains: Wheat, corn hit two-week lows on long liquidation
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures fell to a two-week low on Friday and corn hit a 2-1/2-week low on technical selling including fund long liquidation, analysts said. Soybeans closed modestly higher, bouncing after the spot March contract hit a six-week low. Chicago Board of Trade March wheat settled down 6-3/4 cents at $4.31-1/4 […] Read more
U.S. ag sector seeks opportunities in face of challenges
CNS Canada — With shrinking farm income and a rising debt-to-asset ratio, the U.S. agriculture industry’s leaders are eyeing opportunities that could help it return to a point of profitability. U.S. net farm income is forecast to decline in 2017, with projections from the U.S. Department of Agriculture showing an 8.7 per cent drop, bringing […] Read more
Delayed planting on Prairies could reduce corn acres
CNS Canada — Record yields for Manitoba corn last year have raised the attractiveness of the commodity for many growers. However, the chances for a delayed spring this year could dampen that enthusiasm, according to one industry watcher. “If we get into a delayed planting situation we may see producers switch their corn acres into […] Read more
Coop federee cracks $6 billion mark in revenues
Revenues for expansion-minded Quebec agrifood and retail co-operative La Coop federee crossed the $6 billion mark in fiscal 2016, leading to a substantial jump in patronage dividends to producers. The co-operative at its annual meeting reported earnings, before patronage dividends and income taxes, of $275.44 million on $6.335 billion in revenues for fiscal 2016, up […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Hogs extend losses on cash expectations
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures fell more than one per cent on Thursday, extending losses to their third straight session, on pressure from expectations for declines in Midwest cash hog markets, traders and analysts said. Lower wholesale pork prices this week, especially pork belly cuts, also weighed on futures and squeezed packer […] Read more
Pulse crop sales to India dry up over pest-control plan
Winnipeg/Mumbai | Reuters –– Canadian exporters are slowing sales of peas and lentils to India, threatening $1.1 billion in annual trade of the food staples, over risk that New Delhi may reject shipments under its tougher approach to pest control. India requires shippers to fumigate crops with methyl bromide, an insect-killing gas, in the country […] Read more
Glencore ready for deals and dividends after profit boost
London | Reuters –– Commodities trader and miner Glencore reported an 18 per cent rise in full-year profit on Thursday, buoyed by a rebound in raw materials prices, and said it was well-placed financially for small acquisitions or a special dividend payout. Analysts said the results beat expectations, driving the share price nearly two per […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans at six-week low on U.S. acreage view
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures fell to a six-week low on Thursday on expectations for a big South American harvest and an expansion in U.S. plantings this spring, analysts said. Corn futures fell on chart-based selling and wheat followed the weak trend. The Chicago Board of Trade March soybean contract settled down 11-1/4 […] Read more
Newfoundland shifts Lands Branch to new department
The government branch overseeing Crown land in Newfoundland and Labrador will join the provincial ministry handling the agrifoods file, as the province moves to cut public sector costs. Premier Dwight Ball on Wednesday announced what he billed as the “Flatter, Leaner Management Structure” for the provincial government, a reorganization which will see 287 management positions […] Read more
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