Soybeans continued lower again on Chicago, taking canola along for the ride. American trade-related subsidy programs, now up to US$12 billion, are exacerbating the fall, as that country’s taxpayers shoulder the burden of avoiding the political pressure of starving out U.S. farmers and processors over a trade war with China. Canola was down more than […] Read more
Canola below $490, chasing the beans lower
General Mills changing Nature Valley labels after lawsuit’s pesticide claim
General Mills Inc agreed to stop calling the oats in its Nature Valley granola bars 100 percent natural to settle a lawsuit by three consumer groups that said the bars contained small amounts of the pesticide commonly known as Roundup. Beyond Pesticides, Moms Across America and the Organic Consumers Association on Thursday said the settlement […] Read more
Chinese-American trade presses commodities down
Traders kept markets tight for a third day as Sino-American trade issues took their attention, sending soybeans lower, taking canola with them. Corn and wheat followed on Chicago. Drought conditions in Kansas and southern Iowa didn’t sway the markets away from a feeling that a very big crop is on its way to bins in […] Read more
Organic farmers urged to focus on soil health
Sask. producer emphasizes five principles, including minimized soil disturbance and keeping soil covered
SWIFT CURRENT, Sask — Cody Straza encourages organic growers to use five soil health principles to improve their systems. Trying to implement all five is a challenge, he told a recent organic and low-input field day in Swift Current, but it can be done. Straza and his family operate Upland Organics on 2,100 acres near […] Read moreDay of reckoning coming for pre-harvest glyphosate
Analysis: Farmers who use glyphosate as a desiccant ignore the market signals warning against the practice
Five years ago, about half of the pigs in Canada were raised with ractopamine. In 2018 the percentage is basically zero. Use of the feed additive, which increases the rate of gain for hogs, dropped to nothing because Canada’s pork industry listened to market signals. Major buyers, such as China and Russia, didn’t want pork […] Read moreHarvest weighs heavy on markets
Canola remained under pressure again today, chasing soybeans lower as crop conditions in the American Midwest improved, according to USDA. November canola was down, headed towards that psychological support-point around $500 per tonne, settling at $501.60 Wednesday. After a couple of stronger days, soybean oil price on Chicago was off slightly, often a partial leg […] Read more
Big crop estimates overwhelm weather woe reports
Markets fell hard after the WASDE puts record corn and large bean crops into the minds of traders. Despite lower yielding wheat and canola and rapeseed crops, the markets cut those along with the American favourites. Canola fell hard for a few hours after the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates […] Read more
Nutrition plays big role in new pasture blend
DUNDURN, Sask. — Determining a grazing and pasture formula is as much art as it is science. “The blend that would be right for one may not be right for the next person,” said Nadia Mori, Saskatchewan Agriculture range management extension specialist based in Watrous, Sask. Producers thinking about establishing an expensive new grazing stand […] Read more
Modest weather market forming
A modest weather market is forming ahead of the August 10 USDA report. U.S. corn was up again today and soybeans might have been, if not for expanding trade worries about American and Chinese relationships. After being down so long, wheat remains on an upward march, hitting three-year highs as drought and less than ideal […] Read more
Couple shows ranching’s younger side
The Groots had limited experience but a willingness to learn when they took over the family ranch in northern B.C.
TOPLEY, B.C. — Roger and Lana Groot became full-time ranchers in 2011 with limited experience but plenty of willingness to take over the family operation at Topley. Located on Highway 16 about 275 kilometres northwest of Prince George, Hatch Creek Ranch is a showplace with a newly renovated house, tidy landscaping and neat corrals. The […] Read more
