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BMO Bank of Montreal has pledged a “relief program” for farming clients in the four western provinces. (Dave Bedard photo)

BMO to cut Prairie farmers slack on loans

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News March 6, 2014

BMO Bank of Montreal plans to offer Prairie farmers a “relief program” including options for loan payment deferrals and other breaks in view of the ongoing grain handling backlog. “We want to provide immediate support to any grain producers and other related businesses that may be experiencing cash flow disruptions as a result of the […] Read more

Crops, Markets, Reuters

U.S. grains: Corn at six-month high on strong exports

By GFM Network News March 6, 2014

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade corn prices rose to a six-month high on Thursday as stronger-than-expected weekly U.S. export sales data underscored renewed demand for the grain, traders said. Soybeans rose more than one per cent on continued export demand for tightening U.S. supplies and ahead of a monthly U.S. government crop […] Read more

UN warns of possible humanitarian disaster in South Sudan

By GFM Network News March 5, 2014

United Nations | Reuters — If the fighting in South Sudan prevents people from planting crops over the next three months, the country will be headed for a humanitarian disaster, the humanitarian co-ordinator for the United Nations in South Sudan said Tuesday. The conflict in the world’s youngest country erupted in December between troops backing […] Read more

Crops, Markets, Reuters

U.S. grains: Corn falls as rally triggers farmer selling

By GFM Network News March 5, 2014

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures closed lower on Wednesday after a choppy session as the market’s rally to the highest levels in nearly six months triggered profit-taking and farmer selling, traders said. Wheat slipped from a near three-month high, but worries about political turmoil in Ukraine, a major grain exporter, as well as […] Read more

CBOT soybean, corn futures looking ‘top-heavy’

By GFM Network News March 5, 2014

CNS Canada — Soybean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade moved higher for the fourth straight week during the Feb. 26 to March 5 period. Steady demand, ongoing concerns about tight U.S. supplies and weather problems in South America helped to support the market. Prices looked like they had hit a top, and the […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Canola, Crops, Markets

ICE weekly outlook: Strong canola price to spark selling

By GFM Network News March 5, 2014

CNS Canada –– Canola futures on the ICE Futures Canada trading platform moved sharply higher during the week ended March 5, with ideas that canola is undervalued compared to other oilseeds helping to lift prices. Traders were said to be spreading against other oilseeds, buying canola and selling U.S. soybeans and products. Political problems in […] Read more

Crops, Markets, Reuters

Traders seen wary of new Ukraine grain deals

By GFM Network News March 5, 2014

Kiev | Reuters — Foreign trading houses have shunned new grain export contracts due to continued tensions between Ukraine and Russia, Ukraine’s agriculture minister Ihor Shvaika said on Wednesday. “They are still waiting and there are no new contracts,” Shvaika told Reuters. In the wider dispute Wednesday, Russia rebuffed Western demands to withdraw forces in […] Read more

Crops, Markets, Peas, Pulses

Peas seen as good cropping option for Canadian growers

By GFM Network News March 5, 2014

Winnipeg | CNS Canada –– Peas are starting to pencil out as a good cropping option for farmers in Western Canada to plant this spring. High fertilizer prices and low returns for some of the bigger crops are helping make peas a more attractive option, David Katerynych, grain broker with Kat Commodities Ltd., said during […] Read more

Crops

Lethbridge Inland Terminal sale clears regulators

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News March 5, 2014

Federal regulators have cleared the road for Viterra to complete its takeover of southern Alberta’s farmer-owned Lethbridge Inland Terminal. Regina-based Viterra, the Canadian grain handling arm of Swiss commodity giant Glencore Xstrata, announced Friday it has now picked up “all pertinent shareholder and regulatory approvals” to buy LIT for an undisclosed sum. LIT, which operates […] Read more

Crops, Machinery

Cereal, pulse treatment cleared for on-farm application

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News March 5, 2014

Cereal and pulse crop growers have been cleared for on-farm application of one of Syngenta’s neonicotinoid insecticide seed treatments, for control of pests such as wireworm and pea leaf weevil. Syngenta Canada last week announced it had picked up federal registration for on-farm application of its Cruiser 5FS seed treatment to cereal and pulse seed, […] Read more