China has extended its import restrictions on Canadian canola for another year, significantly holding down potential imports but allowing a critical market to stay partially open. “This is very good news and it shows that China values its canola trade relationship with Canada,” said Canola Council of Canada president JoAnne Buth. China slapped restrictions on […] Read more
Ed White
Stories by Ed White
China may be forced to import pork
DES MOINES, Iowa – China will import pork rather than corn in the future, says an Iowa State University economist.China set markets abuzz recently when it bought American corn for the first time in years. A poor crop in China last year caused end of year shortages that made American corn imports attractive.But Dermot Hayes […] Read more
Hog producers eager for trade deal
Free trade with the European Union and South Korea could help Canadian hog producers refill their barns, says a Canadian economist.As well, American hog trade experts say the key to increasing U.S. hog prices is in approving existing free trade agreements that haven’t been ratified.“Potentially, this is a big deal for the pork industry,” George […] Read more
Unseeded acres leave many producers in marketing bind
Thousands of farmers are stuck in a marketing quagmire, trying to get out of old contracts and into new sales plans.But with many prairie farmers not knowing how much crop they are likely to have three months from now, replacing defunct marketing plans is vexing.“Every individual situation is different,” said Derek Squair, president of Agri-Trend […] Read more
Stand up and salute that pennant!
It’s hard not to stand up and salute the flag. What true Canadian would not be moved by this sight: But right now my car is sporting another flag, not through any lack of patriotism about Canada, but because we Canadians – yet again – failed to make the World Cup. So I have defaulted […] Read more
Disentangling Canada
Canola’s rallied. Oats have rallied. Flax has rallied. Hard Red Spring Wheat has rallied. That all makes sense and we in Western Canada can take credit for those rallies, it seems safe to assume. We dominate those crops and when we get a crop disaster like the one we’re dealing with now, prices rise as […] Read more
Pork producers’ moods lifting at world expo
DES MOINES, Iowa – As he stood on the main street of the Iowa State Fairgrounds, Claude Vielfaure wore a smile.That was evidence of a huge shift in farmer mood at the World Pork Expo, as people like Vielfaure, a Manitoban who is Canada’s largest independent producer of pigs, were able to enjoy good times […] Read more
U.S. hog sector rebounding: analysts
DES MOINES, Iowa – The rest of 2010 and most of next year are solidly profitable for hog farmers, if they are American, said a leading U.S. hog market analyst.The outlook is less positive for Canadian producers, said Canadian hog farmers and industry officials attending the World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa, last week.“The […] Read more
Korean free trade called vital
DES MOINES, Iowa – Free trade with South Korea could mean an extra $10 per hog marketed in the United States, American hog industry experts say.However, a South Korea-U.S. free trade agreement languishes in Congress three years after it was signed, while Canadian and Korean negotiators remain unable to clear major hurdles to a successful […] Read more
U.S. bankers, producers mingle at pork expo
DES MOINES, Iowa – You might expect bankers to be hiding from hog producers, desperate to stay away from the industry that has caused many lenders to lose a lot of money.And you might expect hog producers to be hiding from lenders, fearful that they might pull the rug out from under their struggling operations.But […] Read more
