Stories by Sean Pratt
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

Pundits disagree on La Nina impacts
Market analyst expects La Nina will cut Argentina’s corn crop, while weather expert downplays the system
A well-know weather expert disagrees with analysts who are reducing South America’s production prospects due to a looming La Nina event. Reuters reports that one of its own analysts has decreased his estimate for Argentina’s potential corn harvest by more than eight million tonnes. That is because forecasters at the United States National Oceanic and […] Read more
Dannon switches to non-GM
A food manufacturer’s pledge to make yogurt with non-genetically modified ingredients has raised the ire of U.S. farm groups and the eyebrows of a Canadian grain industry executive. Dannon is transforming its Danimals, Oikos and Dannon brands of yogurt to contain no GM ingredients. Those three brands account for half of the company’s sales. Cows […] Read more