Wheat board CEO Ian White just officially opened the conference by wondering aloud about what else could roil world markets, after seeing what Middle East unrest has done recently. “We will never be able to predict the X factor,” said White about unexpected events. “What will be that event that we can’t predict?” White, echoing […] Read more
Ed White
Stories by Ed White
Geo-political shocks and ag at GrainWorld
Here at the breakfast session of GrainWorld the Royal Bank of Canada’s assistant chief economist, Paul Ferley, is giving the big world economic outlook, with a particular focus on the Asia-Pacific region. His bank is predicting “sustained, though gradual, growth” for the world economy. What are the big worries for RBC? 1) Global “imbalances;” From […] Read more
Forecasting prices way, way far ahead: Good luck with that
From last month to this wheat is up in the Canadian Wheat Board’s Pool Return Outlook. Here are the PRO words: “Wheat values are up between $5 and $13 per tonne from last month’s PRO, depending on class, grade and protein level. Durum is up between $1 and $5. malting barley is down$1 per tone, […] Read more
Moammar, Gerry and Stan
Sometimes democracy can seem so boring. Especially when compared to the strongmen of the non-western world. For instance, here’s an image of a dramatic non-democratic leader in his early years: That’s impressive. That’s Moammar Gadhafi, who’s still in power and who is presently seeming just as defiant as in this image here, although he now […] Read more
Price, demand strong for sunflower snacks, weak for oilseed
Strong prices will compensate for lagging confectionary sunflower yields, says a sunflower breeder and industry pioneer. Jay Schuler of Seeds 2000 told the Manitoba Special Crops Symposium that the crop has a good future in Western Canada and North Dakota, even if it is now suffering because of disease problems. “It really is not a […] Read more
Railways improved, but regulation needed, says CWB
Farmers are saving money and seeing grain flow faster because of a new era of co-operation between Canadian National Railway and the Canadian Wheat Board, say leaders of both organizations. But while both sides agree that further cost savings are possible by future collaboration, they still politely agree to disagree about CN’s desire to operate […] Read more
Soybeans top choice in Red River Valley
Soybeans are king this year, say three leading special crop growers in Manitoba’s Red River Valley. The combination of high prices and hardiness means many other farmers will likely be thinking the same thing. “It looks like we’ll have a wet spring again, and they’re a good choice going into that,” Altona farmer Kyle Friesen […] Read more
Edible bean industry dwindles in Manitoba
Buyers will look elsewhere for supplies if Manitoba farmers don’t keep planting edible beans, warns a major Ontario bean buyer. However, Jim Barclay of Hensall District Co-op wasn’t able to give Manitoba farmer Curtis Sims much of a response to the challenge of why Manitoba farmers should care. “You either have to be a contrarian […] Read more
New approach needed in moving hogs
Doing what seems natural doesn’t work for moving pigs. That’s because what’s natural for humans doesn’t seem natural to pigs being moved by humans. “We mess them up,” said Nancy Lidster of DNL Farms of White Fox, Sask. “We increase intensity rather than backing off.” Lidster said pig handlers are often vexed and frustrated by […] Read more
Correction or reversal?
So with yesterday’s clattering thump, are we still in correction territory, or are we seeing signs of a reversal to the downside? That’s the crucial question on everyone’s mind. We’ve seen a gentle sell-off of crop futures in the last week, but yesterday’s sudden slumping has made many draw in their breath. Here’s what it […] Read more
