File photo of a CN locomotive in Winnipeg. (Dave Bedard photo)

CN CEO to retire as investor pressure weighs

Shareholder TCI has replacement in mind

Reuters — Canadian National Railway (CN) said on Tuesday its CEO Jean-Jacques Ruest will retire at the end of January, following investor demands for his exit after the railroad operator’s failed bid for Kansas City Southern. TCI Fund Management, which owns five per cent of Canadian National, in August pitched former Jim Vena — a […] Read more

File photo of a soybean plantation in Brazil. (Mailson Pignata/iStock/Getty Images)

More acres seen needed worldwide to meet mounting crops demand

U.S. acres may have already hit ceiling: AgResource chief

Geneva | Reuters — Farmers need more space to grow crops to meet mounting demand for food and renewable fuel at a time of slowing growth in yields, consultancy AgResource said on Tuesday. A renewable fuel push under U.S. President Joe Biden’s climate agenda is set to trigger a boom in soyoil use, reinforcing a […] Read more



No-till or zero-till systems are generally viewed as the best prevention against tillage, wind and water erosion.

How to protect and save your topsoil

Erosion can be a problem even in zero-till fields. Here are some strategies to stop soil loss

Tillage and not wind or water is the biggest source of soil loss on farmers’ fields. David Lobb, a soil scientist at the University of Manitoba, says for decades people mistakenly thought the eroded knolls or hilltops in fields were caused mostly by wind. “What causes the severe soil loss on hilltops is tillage erosion, […] Read more


CME December 2021 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, dark red and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle retreat from one-month high

Corn futures weigh on feeder cattle

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed lower on Monday, hit by profit-taking and technical selling after the benchmark December contract hit a one-month high on Friday, traders said. A stronger close in corn futures pressured feeder cattle futures. CME December live cattle futures settled down 0.55 cent at 130.425 cents/lb. […] Read more

CBOT December 2021 corn (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, orange and dark green lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn climbs on export data, acreage worries

CBOT soy, wheat also firm

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures ended higher on Monday, rallying from early declines, as traders focused on stronger-than-expected weekly U.S. export inspections data and fears that rising fertilizer prices could limit corn plantings in the coming year. Soybean futures also rose, buoyed by strength in soyoil and global vegetable oil markets. Wheat futures […] Read more


Minneapolis (MGEX) December 2021 wheat (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

Prairie cash wheat: CWRS bids up with U.S. futures

However, a strong loonie applies pressure

MarketsFarm — Minneapolis spring wheat futures climbed to contract highs during the week ended Thursday, which provided spillover support for Canadian cash bids. However, strength in the Canadian dollar was a bearish influence, tempering the upside in the cash market. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS, 13.5 per cent protein) wheat prices were up by […] Read more

CBOT November 2021 soybeans (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn, soy bounce on technical buying, potential export demand

CBOT wheat turns higher on Paris rally

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago corn and soybean futures prices rose on Friday, supported by technical buying and renewed hopes of export demand, while wheat prices were boosted by a rally in the European market, traders said. Prices of corn and soybeans have recovered since falling sharply following higher-than-expected supply forecasts from the U.S. Department […] Read more


An eastward-facing view from the north edge of the crossing at Mile 98.14 of CN’s Ashcroft subdivision, where BCWS suspected the Lytton fire began. (TSB photo)

No evidence trains sparked Lytton fire, TSB says

Transportation Safety Board now stepping out of ongoing fire probe

There’s no proof the fire that largely destroyed a British Columbia village, damaged a key rail bridge and led to cuts in rail speed limits in high-risk areas was sparked by train traffic, the federal Transportation Safety Board says. The TSB on Thursday said its investigation, launched in early July, “has not revealed any evidence […] Read more

(Andreus/iStock/Getty Images)

Hay-starved Prairies fertile ground for online scammers

At least $64,000 lost in Alberta alone, RCMP says

High demand, scarce supplies and rising prices for hay and other feeds due to this summer’s drought on the Prairies have made a market for online scammers, RCMP warn. The urgency driving such transactions may cause ranchers, farmers and farm workers to make purchases “without taking time to properly verify or research production sources,” Alberta […] Read more