CNS Canada — Excess moisture reigns supreme as the main hurdle for Prairie farmers when they look ahead to spring — but some areas are still too dry, according to soil experts. “A few areas of southern Manitoba have been drying out. The area around Morden has been drier the last couple of months,” said […] Read more
Soil watchers see areas of concern across Prairies
Steadier demand sought in China for Canadian canola
CNS Canada — Chinese demand for Canada’s canola and canola oil remains a key driver for the Canadian industry — but China has been an inconsistent customer in the past, which makes developing ongoing relationships important. China in 2013-14 imported 3.9 million tonnes of Canadian canola, accounting for almost half of Canada’s total exports during […] Read more
Asia’s mills eye Canada’s wheat as Australian supply slows
Singapore | Reuters — Asian flour millers are looking at buying Canadian spring wheat for shipment early next year as supplies from drought-hit Australia are likely to remain slow, traders said. Canadian western red spring wheat is being offered at around $345 a tonne, including cost and freight, nearly unchanged from last week, while Australia […] Read more
JBS to buy Australia’s Primo for $1.4B
Sao Paulo | Reuters — Brazil’s JBS SA, the world’s largest beef exporter, has agreed to buy Australian processed foods producer Primo Smallgoods for A$1.45 billion (C$1.41 billion). The company will also buy food company Grupo Big Frango in Brazil for 430 million reais (C$192 million), stepping up the pace of acquisitions that have played […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soy rallies on short-covering, China rate cut
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybeans rallied 1.8 per cent on Friday, pushing prices into positive territory for the week as investors covered short positions and top soy importer China unexpectedly cut interest rates. Corn futures edged lower and wheat mostly higher at the Chicago Board of Trade in a choppy and volatile session amid […] Read more
October U.S. cattle placements not as slow as expected
Chicago | Reuters –– The number of cattle placed in U.S. feedlots in October declined versus last year, a government report showed on Friday, but not by as much as expected, said analysts. While pricey calves discouraged feedlots from buying them, high-priced slaughter cattle and deteriorating summer pastures drew more livestock into feeding pens, they […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle rise into USDA report
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures settled higher on Friday on positioning before this week’s cash prices and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s monthly Cattle-On-Feed report at 2 p.m. CT, traders said. Most analysts expect Friday’s report to show cattle placements in October declined from last year. USDA will simultaneously issue […] Read more
Minogue: Silicon Valley, Saskatchewan style
Jordan Dutchak is bringing Silicon Valley’s working style to Saskatchewan agriculture. This weekend software developers, engineers, students and entrepreneurs will team up with farmers and ag professionals in Saskatoon at Emerging Agriculture, the first Canadian agricultural hackathon, where they hope to develop cutting-edge solutions to agricultural problems. The idea of a “hackathon” originated in the […] Read more
Farm websites earn national honours
Farm Business Communications’ ventures in cyberspace have earned national honours for the Winnipeg farm publishing house at the Canadian Online Publishing Awards. The awards, presented Thursday in Toronto in an event organized by Canadian media magazine Masthead, go to websites in three divisions: Blue (scholarly, farm, business-to-business), Red (consumer) and Green (news media). Four of […] Read more
Canadian Forage and Grassland Association short of funds, and a manager
The Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) set up five years ago to help Canada’s struggling forage and grassland industry is struggling itself, but vows to carry on despite a shortage of funds and the resignation of its executive director, Ron Pidskalny. “Nobody is saying we’re going to have to shut it down,” CFGA chair […] Read more