Rob Saik won’t divulge how much Trimble paid to acquire Agri-Trend but it is a safe bet he walked away with more than he had when he founded the company in 1997. “With a Chevette and a soil probe and a $35,000 credit card from the Royal Bank, I started Agri-Trend. I had nothing,” he […] Read more
Sean Pratt
Stories by Sean Pratt
Argentine election has crop market twist
This weekend’s presidential election in Argentina will have lasting implications for grain markets, says an analyst. Both candidates say they will eliminate production-limiting export taxes on soybeans, corn and wheat. “The real bearish situation for me is that this adds to the oversupply situation in the long run,” said Pedro Dejneka, president of AGR Brasil, […] Read more
Analyst sees factors that could eventually lift markets
More short-term pain likely, but rising global ethanol production and weather problems in China and Indonesia could spark turnaround
Grain prices will continue to spiral downward for a few months, but a shift in market psychology could follow, says an analyst. “I think there’s a major bottom (coming),” said David Hightower, founder of the Hightower Report. However, there will be further carnage before the bottom arrives. “We haven’t absorbed the (U.S.) crop that is […] Read moreCanada, U.S. wheat prices near equal
Price disparity with United States ends as Canada’s railways catch up with demand, but sales are slow in both countries
Canadian wheat and durum prices have arbitraged with those across in the United States. Elevators in Saskatchewan and Alberta are buying spring wheat and durum for only slightly less than competitors in North Dakota and Montana. “I’m not hearing anybody going across the line, and why would they?” said grain industry analyst Larry Weber, who […] Read more
Grain commission wants reform bill to proceed
The Canadian Grain Commission has unfinished business to discuss with Lawrence MacAulay. “In the coming weeks, the CGC will request to meet with the incoming minister of agriculture and we intend to discuss the need to modernize the Canada Grain Act, modernize Canada’s wheat classes and our proposal to license feed mills,” said commission spokesperson […] Read more
Shareholders approve Legumex Walker sale to Scoular
Shareholders of a beleaguered Winnipeg grain company have approved the sale of its special crops division. Legumex Walker announced that it has received the two-thirds majority it needed to proceed with the sale to the Scoular Company. Almost 100 percent of the 12,394,245 shares voted by ballot, proxy or in person approved the sale, which […] Read more
India’s pulse seeding plans linked to rain
A large Indian winter crop is the one thing that threatens to reverse the recent bull run in pulse markets, say analysts. Seeding of India’s winter crop is ahead of last year’s pace but behind the long-term average. The Indian government an-nounced attractive minimum support prices for chickpeas and lentils last week in an attempt […] Read more
Mission aims to calm fears
One of the objectives of Team Canada’s new crop missions is to assuage customer concerns about mycotoxins. “There is a growing focus around the world on the two key myco-toxins in the cereal industry,” said Cam Dahl, president of Cereals Canada. Mycotoxins are poisonous chemical compounds produced by fungi. The two big ones in cereal […] Read more
Grain marketers high on wheat, durum crop
People involved in the Team Canada grain trade promotion tour are about to tell customers around the world about this year’s wheat and durum crops. “We have good news to talk about with customers,” said Cam Dahl, president of Cereals Canada. “It’s a high quality crop.” The group is scheduled to embark on a series […] Read more
Clever solution to canola problem
Grain companies are devising marketing solutions for canola treated with quinclorac and trying to keep it out of shipments destined for China and Japan. Quinclorac is the active ingredient in Clever, a herbicide to control cleavers that was sold by Great Northern Growers this spring and applied on up to 1.2 percent of Canada’s canola. […] Read more
