Crops & Production Tips

PotashCorp reported hiring third bank in battle for K+S

By Reuters, GFM Network News September 7, 2015

Reuters — Canada’s PotashCorp has hired a third investment bank as adviser in its effort to take over German fertilizer maker K+S , a German newspaper reported Sunday. Bank of America Merrill Lynch will join Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank in advising the Saskatoon-based fertilizer giant in the effort, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper said, […] Read more

Fruit/Vegetables, Livestock, Markets, Reuters

EU to give 500M euros to farmers hit by Russia sanctions

By GFM Network News September 7, 2015

Brussels | Reuters — The European Commission announced a 500 million-euro (C$743 million) package of measures on Monday to provide relief for farmers stung by slumping prices, triggered partly by the loss of exports to Russia due to EU sanctions against the country. The crisis has triggered a wave of protests which culminated on Monday […] Read more

Sunset in Egypt on the Nile River south of Luxor. (CIA.gov)

Crops, Reuters

Egypt’s ag minister arrested on suspicion of corruption

By GFM Network News September 7, 2015

Cairo | Reuters — Egypt’s agriculture minister resigned on Monday and was arrested on suspicion of corruption shortly after leaving the cabinet building. “He was arrested in connection with a corruption case involving illegal land licences,” a security official said. “He is under investigation.” The minister, Salah El Din Mahmoud Helal, could not immediately be […] Read more

Crops, Fruit/Vegetables, Grapes, Reuters

Bayer issues fungicide warning for wine grape growers

By Reuters, GFM Network News September 7, 2015

Zurich | Reuters — Germany’s Bayer has advised wine grape growers not to use its Moon Privilege fungicide until its Bayer CropScience arm has investigated whether there’s a connection between the product’s use and reported crop damage. Growers have reported deformed leaves and lower yields from their crops this year. Referring to “atypical symptoms” in […] Read more

Canola, Cereals, Pulses

Send your grain harvest samples in for free analysis

The CGC’s Harvest Sample Program gives farmers a valuable marketing tool

By Lee Hart September 4, 2015

Getting a free grain quality analysis at harvest not only puts farmers in a better bargaining position when they market their crops, but it also helps Canada sell grain, canola and pulse crops around the world. The ongoing Harvest Sample Program offered by the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) gives a farmer more solid footing when […] Read more

November ICE canola for week of Aug. 28 to Sept. 4, 2015. (Barchart.com)

Canola, Crops, Markets

Canola charts pointed lower

By GFM Network News September 4, 2015

CNS Canada — ICE canola futures have posted large losses over the past week, but chart signals are still overwhelmingly bearish, with at least another $10 to go before the November contract should find support. November canola settled at $454.50 per tonne on Friday, down by over $20 from the previous week. However, trend lines […] Read more

Crops

PHOTOS: Harvest Sample Program workshop

By Lee Hart September 4, 2015

As farmers attending the workshop sponsored by Alberta Barley, Alberta Wheat Commission and the Alberta Canola Producers Commission heard again, determining quality of any particular sample is a subjective process. While some quality sorting technology is available and is in the process of being refined, determining the quality and grade of wheat, barley and canola […] Read more

Crops, Markets, Spring Wheat, Winter Wheat

Cash wheat prices move lower across Prairies

By GFM Network News September 4, 2015

CNS Canada –– Cash wheat bids across Western Canada edged lower during the week ended Friday, as basis levels held relatively steady and the continued slide in U.S. futures weighed on values. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat prices were down by roughly C$2 per tonne across the three Prairie provinces, according to price […] Read more

Crops, Markets, Reuters

U.S. grains: Wheat, corn creep higher as investors trim bearish bets

By Rod Nickel, GFM Network News September 4, 2015

Reuters — Chicago wheat edged higher after touching a five-year low on Friday, and corn also inched up as investors covered short positions in both grains after recent declines. The nearby contract for wheat finished with its fourth straight weekly loss in the face of stiff export competition from northern hemisphere harvests, losing four per […] Read more

A jimsonweed bloom. (Patrick J. Alexander photo courtesy USDA-NRCS Plants Database)

Canola, Crops

Jimsonweed not a threat to canola oil, meal safety

By Allan Dawson, GFM Network News September 4, 2015

Canada’s canola oil and meal will remain safe to consume even if some jimsonweed seeds end up in it, according to Curtis Rempel, vice-president of crop production and innovation at the Canola Council of Canada (CCC). “While jimsonweed itself can be poisonous, the heating process in canola oil and meal processing denatures toxic alkaloids, so […] Read more

Daily Network News

Southern California honeybees show resistance to varroa mites

Pulse Weekly: SaskPulse optimistic despite input, crop price concerns

Canadian aquaculture should be classed as agriculture, industry groups say