Health Canada is revising Canada’s food guide for the first time in nearly a decade. Commodity groups are keenly interested in what recommendations will be contained in the new guide because it can have a big impact on consumption patterns. But this time around, the groups won’t have the same influence on shaping the guide […] Read more
Sean Pratt
Stories by Sean Pratt
Will the U.S. kill the TPP?
There is one important issue where it doesn’t matter whether Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump won this week’s U.S. presidential election. Both candidates were dead set against passing the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, and that spells the end to the world’s biggest free trade deal, says an international trade lawyer. “Even if other countries started to […] Read more
Canaryseed outlook depends on late harvest success
If farmers manage to harvest their canaryseed crops there should be plenty of supply, but that’s a big if, says an analyst. Saskatchewan Agriculture reports that half of the crop was still in fields as of Oct. 24. Canaryseed and flax are typically the last crops harvested, so it is not unusual for farmers to […] Read more
Feds explore increase in cash advance
Norm Hall is unaccustomed to getting such a quick response to planting a seed. A few weeks ago the president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan met with federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay regarding grain transportation concerns. As the minister was rushing out the door to catch a plane, Hall took the opportunity to […] Read more
Is the chickpea crop worth saving?
Three-quarters of Saskatchewan’s chickpea crop remains in the field and is in terrible condition, say analysts. Saskatchewan Agriculture reports that 25 percent of the crop had been combined as of Oct. 24, compared to an average of 82 percent for all crops. “The Canadian chickpea crop is a disaster,” said Marlene Boersch, analyst with Mercantile […] Read more
India preps for record harvest
Analysts are divided over reports of a record-smashing Indian kharif or summer pulse crop harvest. The Indian government estimates farmers will harvest 8.7 million tonnes of pulses this fall, up 22 percent from the previous record. That includes 4.3 million tonnes of pigeon peas, which is 35 percent higher than the previous record for that […] Read more
Chinese wheat subsidies called clear trade violation
China continues to flagrantly violate its World Trade Organization obligations, says U.S. Wheat Associates. The Chinese government set its 2017 state wheat purchase price at 2,360 yuan per tonne last week, which is unchanged from the previous two years. That amounts to $349 US per tonne or $9.50 per bushel, which is about double what […] Read more
How will the federal carbon tax affect the fertilizer industry?
Canada’s fertilizer industry is trying to understand what effect a federal carbon tax will have on the sector. Garth Whyte, president of Fertilizer Canada, which represents Canadian manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers of nitrogen, phosphate and potash fertilizer, said there are too many variables and unanswered questions. The federal government is implementing a minimum nation-wide carbon […] Read more
Broker offers security option
Licensed grain companies have another option to choose from when providing security to the Canadian Grain Commission. Global Credit Risk Management, an insurance broker specializing in accounts receivable products, has developed an insurance product in conjunction with the commission that is now ready for sale. The new product will compete with the existing insurance, letters […] Read more
Unharvested grain throws wrench in cash-advance plan
Jeremy Welter usually relies on fall cash advances to pay his bills and provide him with the flexibility to market his crops when he wants. That won’t happen this fall because the cash-advance program requires his grain to be in the bin for collateral. Unfortunately, two-thirds of his crop was still in the field as […] Read more
