The world’s largest wheat buyer is making significant changes to its bread subsidy program in an effort to reduce its reliance on imported wheat. While never a big buyer of Canadian wheat, Egypt’s demand affects the global wheat market. The country’s bread subsidy program typically uses 10 million tonnes of wheat per year to feed […] Read more
Sean Pratt
Stories by Sean Pratt
U.S. bans trans fats in food
A move by U.S. regulators to ban trans fats has hearts fluttering in Canada’s canola industry. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has determined that partially hydrogenated oil, which is the primary source of artificial trans fats in processed food, is not generally recognized as safe for use in human food. The agency has given […] Read more
Grain commission audits buyer
The Canadian Grain Commission is conducting a financial audit on a grain buyer from Melfort, Sask., and will soon launch a claims process for growers owed money by the company. “Naber Specialty Grain needs to provide us with a number of documents before we can begin our payment process,” said commission spokesperson Remi Gosselin. “We’re […] Read more
Feed mills to be under grain commission’s protection plan
The Canadian Grain Commission will be licensing feed mills — it is only a matter of how and how many. That is what the commission has determined after its initial round of consultations with industry. “The minister of agriculture has also signified his intent to have these facilities licensed,” said commission spokesperson Remi Gosselin. Consultations […] Read more
Feed mills to be under grain commission’s protection plan
The Canadian Grain Commission will be licensing feed mills — it is only a matter of how and how many. That is what the commission has determined after its initial round of consultations with industry. “The minister of agriculture has also signified his intent to have these facilities licensed,” said commission spokesperson Remi Gosselin. Consultations […] Read more
Inform grain buyer if reduced yields expected, says lawyer
Contracts rarely protect growers against drought, so growers may face penalties
With early-season drought threatening yield prospects, it might be time for growers to contact buyers to discuss the contracts they have signed, says a lawyer. Craig Zawada, chief executive officer of WMCZ Lawyers, said farmers typically sign contracts in spring and have no further contact with buyers until the delivery date. “Whenever there is a […] Read moreRetention bonus fails to keep Broadacre directors
The resignations ‘constitute a material adverse change in the financial circumstances of the company:’ lawyer
The directors of Broadacre Agriculture have resigned less than three months after a judge approved a plan to keep them on board. According to court documents, three of the directors quit on June 2 and a fourth on June 3. Broadacre has been operating under court ordered bankruptcy protection since Nov. 4, 2014. It had […] Read moreBig bean forecast in Argentina won’t hurt Canadian exports
Canada ships to the European Union and United States while Argentina exports to Brazil
A large increase in bean production from a major exporter isn’t expected to drag down North American prices, says a pulse crop analyst. Stat Publishing is forecasting 500,000 tonnes of production in Argentina based on conversations with processors, which is nearly double the previous five-year average. The forecast includes 200,000 tonnes of white alubia beans […] Read more
Lack of rain may force cattle to market
If rain doesn’t come soon, herd rebuilding will be delayed for a year as pastures dry up and feedlots face escalating costs
Dry conditions are hampering expansion of Canada’s cattle herd, says the head of a market research firm. “I’m not sure we’re looking at contraction but it’s just going to slow expansion,” said Brian Perillat, manager of Canfax. The industry was poised to increase the herd size but with crunchy, dry pastures, heifers that were going […] Read more
Market watchers keep eye on dry durum conditions
A disappointing harvest in Algeria and Tunisia could spark import demand
Durum prices could rise due to dry conditions in western Canada and North Africa. Large parts of the western Prairies need rain and there are reports that drought is curtailing durum production in Algeria and Tunisia, two important importing countries. Reuters reports that Algeria’s total cereal output will remain at last year’s relatively low 3.4 […] Read more
