Another asset formerly owned by Viterra is being sold off by Swiss commodity trader Glencore Xstrata. Glencore confirmed today that is selling Dakota Growers Pasta Company in North Dakota to Post Holdings Inc. for $370 million. Post, a St. Louis, Missouri, based cereal maker whose products include Honeycomb, Alpha Bits, Raisin Bran and Shreddies, said […] Read more
Brian Cross
Stories by Brian Cross
Lower levels of protein in durum expected
5.5 million tonne crop coming | Yields high, but protein levels are lower than normal
Early signals from Western Canada’s top durum producing regions point to lower-than-normal protein levels in this year’s crop. In southwestern Saskatchewan, sources say average protein levels in top grades of milling wheat could be 0.5 to one percentage point below average. And in southern Alberta, many durum samples show protein at 11 to 11.5 percent, […] Read moreNew PROs project another drop in prices
For the third time in less than a month, CWB has updated Pool Return Outlooks for its early delivery and annual pools. PROs released today project lower returns for wheat, durum, canola and field peas. CWB said a larger-than-expected harvest is pressuring cash prices. A strengthening Canadian dollar is also having a negative impact on […] Read more
CWB urges farmers to market early due to big anticipated crop
Prairie farmers are expected to harvest a large crop this year, but protein levels will be lower than average and getting the crop to market could be a challenge. CWB pooling manager Dave Przednowek says this year’s large crop will put greater pressure on the logistical system. “The large size of this year’s crop means […] Read more
Sask. land value continues strong
Investment fund ‘still believers’ | Alberta company sees land price almost double since 2008
An Alberta-based investment company is selling more than 19,000 acres of farmland in Saskatchewan. Calgary-based Agcapita is winding up Farmland Fund I, the first of four farmland investment funds under the company’s management. The Registered Retirement Savings Plan eligible fund was launched in early 2008 and deployed about $10 million in investment capital, which was […] Read moreCGC changing grain data delivery
Gathering statistics | Grain commission is now reliant on operators to submit information
Statistics that monitor the movement of Canadian grain from primary elevators to ocean bound vessels are getting a major overhaul this summer. Changes to the Canadian Grain Act have forced the Canadian Grain Commission to revamp the way grain handling statistics are collected, verified and presented, according to CGC statistician Kevin Morgan. In the past, […] Read moreNew resistant wheat excites growers
AC Emerson | The red winter wheat variety is resistant to fusarium, leaf stripe and stem rust
Seed growers have been talking about it. Farmers can’t wait to get their hands on it. And all the major elevator companies want a piece of it. AC Emerson, a red winter wheat variety with a resistant rating against fusarium, will soon make its debut in commercial fields across Western Canada. Canterra Seeds, which holds […] Read moreMore Sask. pigs make way to China
When pigs fly, you say? That day might be upon us. Almost 900 Saskatchewan pigs flew across the Pacific Ocean recently, after Saskatoon swine genetics company Fast Genetics sold a shipment of 868 breeding pigs to China. The pigs, from the company’s facilities near Spiritwood, Sask., included 710 sows and 158 boars. They were first […] Read more
CWB PROs reflect expectation of big world grain crops
CWB has updated its Pool Return Outlooks for the 2013-14 early delivery and annual pools, and has lower projected returns for all grains and oilseeds. In its PRO commentary, CWB listed larger global wheat and corn stocks and a stronger Canadian dollar as factors affecting PROs. The new PROs were released Aug. 15, just before […] Read more
Input sought on proposed crop variety registration
Ottawa is seeking feedback from farmers, seed growers and others on proposed changes to Canada’s variety registration system. Agriculture Canada has posted an online document entitled Crop Variety Registration in Canada: Issues and Options. The document, which can be viewed on Agriculture Canada’s web-site, outlines measures that could be taken to streamline Canada’s variety registration […] Read more
