Previous court rulings say Skyline’s financing model violates Saskatchewan law
Skyline Agriculture Financial is appealing a court ruling that prevents it from offering a unique financing model for growers interested in acquiring Saskatchewan farmland. In 2014, Saskatchewan’s Farm Land Security Board ruled that a 15 acre parcel of land financed by Skyline violated the province’s land ownership laws. Saskatchewan’s Court of Queen’s Bench in a […] Read more
Sean Pratt
Stories by Sean Pratt
G3 explores Port Metro Vancouver grain terminal
Rumours of a new export grain terminal being planned for Port Metro Vancouver have proven true. G3 Global Holdings has formed a joint venture with Western Stevedoring Company Limited to examine the feasibility of building an export terminal there. G3 Global Holdings is a limited partnership between Bunge Canada and SALIC Canada. The two companies […] Read more
Funding helps develop organic export markets
Western Economic Diversification announced $1.2 million in funding today to help prairie organic grain growers develop international markets. The money will be spent on enhancing the Organic Alberta Council’s leadership role in the Prairie Organic Grain Initiative, which works to boost organic grain production, quality and profitability and support grower participation in trade shows and […] Read more
Favourable winds mean fewer problems with aster yellows, diamondback moth
Aster yellows disease and diamondback moths are not expected to be big problems this year because of favourable spring wind patterns, says a researcher. Agriculture Canada and Environment Canada have created a model that measures wind trajectory at 50 locations across Canada. “To date, we haven’t had a lot of winds that have a lot […] Read more
Get out sun screen — hot summer expected for Prairies
Shorts should be a popular choice of attire this summer in Western Canada, according to AccuWeather. “One thing I will say is about 80 to 90 percent of the computer models we’re looking at here are all in agreement that this summer is going to be warmer compared to normal,” said senior meteorologist Brett Anderson. […] Read more
Tight margins see crushers slow down
Crude oil prices, a weak Canadian dollar and poor soybean meal contracts factors in tight margins
Canola crush margins are tightening, and that means lacklustre bids for old crop, say analysts. The canola board crush margin was $65 per tonne as of May 22, down from $173 per tonne a year ago. “There is definitely a down trend going on here,” said an oilseed analyst who requested anonymity. Joel Horn, president […] Read moreLegumex Walker posts better results
Legumex Walker’s special crops segment performed better during the first quarter of 2015 than it did in the last quarter of 2014. The segment posted $5.9 million in adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), which is much higher than the $1.4 million earned in the previous quarter. “That is four times what […] Read more
NFU fears changes favour grain firms over farmers
Chief commissioner addressed concerns that the Western Standards Committee could be stacked to the detriment of grain growers
The National Farmers Union says Bill C-48 would eliminate the Canadian Grain Commission’s ability to put farmers’ interests ahead of multibillion-dollar grain companies. The bill, dubbed the Modernization of Canada’s Grain Industry Act, was tabled in Parliament Dec. 9. One major aspect of the bill is that it changes the commission’s mandate from acting in […] Read moreFeds may have supply management on negotiating table, says Goodale
The deputy leader of the Liberal Party of Canada is hearing hints that the federal government is willing to make sacrifices to supply management to be part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement. Ralph Goodale says it is hard to tell what is going on behind closed doors with the negotiations, but he gets a sense […] Read more
Global venture leads to lawsuits
Chinese firm sues Saskatchewan head of Clean Power Concepts for fraud: company countersues
A Chinese state-owned enterprise and a Regina businessperson who were going to build a sizable canola crushing facility in Regina are suing one another. Chongqing Red Dragonfly Oil Co. filed a statement of claim with the Court of Queen’s Bench for Saskatchewan that accuses Michael Shenher and the companies he is affiliated with, along with […] Read more
