U.S. agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack says the United States is trying to regain its competitive edge in world agricultural markets.
Tag Archives transportation
Commodity Classic: U.S. fighting for market share says Vilsack
Competitive advantages from superior U.S. transportation have all but evaporated
Who makes the big bucks in the agri-food sector?
From an investment standpoint, choose carefully
After studying the ag supply sectors in my last article, I wanted to take the project a step further to examine companies between the farm gate and the consumer. Like with ag suppliers, my findings are somewhat surprising. I looked at four sectors: grain handling and primary processing, railroads, food manufacturers and food retail, with […] Read more
Bolivia farm region blocks borders, grain transport in protests
Santa Cruz/La Paz | Reuters — Protesters in Bolivia’s farming region of Santa Cruz are blocking highways out of the province, threatening to snarl the domestic transport of grains and food, as anger simmers following the arrest of local governor Luis Camacho. The region, a stronghold of the conservative opposition to socialist President Luis Arce, […] Read more
U.S. packer profit margins jumped 300 per cent during pandemic, economists say
Increased costs don't explain higher profits, White House advisors say
Washington | Reuters — Four of the biggest meat-processing companies, using their market power in the highly consolidated U.S. market to drive up meat prices and underpay farmers, have tripled their own net profit margins since the pandemic started, White House economics advisers said. Financial statements of the meat-processing companies — which control 55 to […] Read more
Grain handler group seeks Vancouver port governance overhaul
The WGEA, whose members ship most of Western Canada's grain, complain the port is in a conflict of interest as both developer and regulator
Vancouver, Canada’s biggest port and the most important to Western Canada’s economy, needs major changes in how it operates, the Western Grain Elevator Association (WGEA) says. As a statutory monopoly the port authority is both a port developer and regulator putting it in a conflict of interest, according to WGEA executive director Wade Sobkowich. “We […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Increased demand seen, but problems loom
MarketsFarm — Unlike other commodities, pulses aren’t yet feeling ill effects from an economic downturn due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, according to Marcos Mosnaim of Globeways Canada in Mississauga. With consumers panic-buying, there has been increased demand for pulses, as many are non-perishable, Mosnaim said. “These products will be there for ages,” he said, […] Read more
Wildfire-damaged grazing areas up for Saskatchewan aid
Saskatchewan’s provincial disaster assistance program (PDAP) will be opened up to cover southwestern grazing areas damaged by this fall’s wildfires. The province’s government relations minister, Larry Doke, on Wednesday announced producers who incurred wildfire damage on “tame and native lands” intended for grazing may now apply for assistance to get feed for affected livestock. Winds […] Read more
These Utes are real road warriors
The tough, left-drive trucks driven by Aussies bring to mind those crazy Mad Max vehicles
The most obvious difference between road travel in Canada and Australia, is those blokes down under insist on driving on the wrong side of the centre line. A feat that requires a little concentration the first time you try it — if you’re used to Canadian highways. Australian farmers who’ve learned to adeptly shift gears […] Read more
Supply management the hot button at ag debate
CNS Canada — Representatives from Canada’s five main parties met Wednesday in Ottawa to discuss and debate farm policy ranging from risk management to transportation and rural infrastructure ahead of the Oct. 19 federal election. The hot button issue of the debate, however, was Canada’s supply management systems for dairy, poultry and eggs. The topic […] Read more
How to haul your grain to the U.S.
Many farmers are looking at State-side selling opportunities. Sarah Weigum digs into the details
Here in the brave new post-single desk world I hear a lot of curious chatter from farmers thinking about hauling their own wheat and barley to the United States. Of course, Canadian pulse and oilseed producers have always been allowed to sell their production to the U.S. so this is not entirely uncharted territory. Other […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
