West Coast Reduction, a processor of meat and fish byproducts, also ships canola oil at port facility
Canola growers might be surprised to learn what company plays a vital role in shipping their vegetable oil to export markets. West Coast Reduction has become a major player in the industry. “We’re the gateway to the marketplace for the canola oil business,” said president Barry Glotman. The company built its reputation in the agriculture […] Read more
Sean Pratt
Stories by Sean Pratt
Colombia improves access
Canada has removed a major trade impediment with its fifth largest wheat customer. Colombia has agreed to remove phytosanitary import restrictions that were making Canadian exporters antsy about shipping product to that market. The country’s plant protection organization no longer requires Canadian wheat shipments be certified free of dwarf bunt disease and other types of […] Read more
Oilseed sector eager for biodiesel mandate
Oilseed markets could get a much-needed lift once the United States establishes long overdue biodiesel blending requirements in the coming weeks. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has committed to releasing its Renewable Fuel Standard volume obligations for 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 by June 1. The volumes were supposed to be released by November 2012. […] Read more
New crop corn stocks-to-use should tighten, supporting prices
North America’s leading crop input provider believes corn and other grain and oilseed prices will be on the rise in the second half of 2015-16. Jason Newton, head of market research for Agrium, is forecasting a “pretty significant decline” in the corn stocks-to-use ratio, which bodes well for prices. His analysis is based on a […] Read more
U.S. soybean estimate expected to be misleading
Growers need to take out their saltshakers when the U.S. Department of Agriculture releases its first supply and demand estimates for 2015-16 on May 12, says an analyst. The USDA has a tendency to be overly bearish in that report, especially when it comes to soybeans, said Arlan Suderman, senior market analyst with Water Street […] Read more
TPP the end of supply management?
Trade experts expect Canada will face pressure to get rid of supply management under terms of the Trans-Pacific Partnership
The supply management debate is reaching a tipping point as Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations heat up, says a policy analyst. Protection of Canada’s dairy, poultry and egg sectors is under increased scrutiny as the centrepiece of the TPP deal nears completion, said Brian Crowley, managing director of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. Australia, New Zealand and the […] Read moreFaba, soybeans focus of pulse sector investment
Developing new uses, expanding demand and improving market access part of Saskatchewan Pulse Growers strategic plan
Saskatchewan Pulse Growers has a new strategic plan that emphasizes developing alternative crops for the province’s farmers. “We’re going to increase the level of focus that we have on diversity of crops,” said executive director Carl Potts. “Fababeans and soybeans is where we’re going to see some more investment.” Pulse crops account for 14 percent […] Read moreFind efficiency with new export focus: analyst
The federal government is busy negotiating trade agreements that will boost sales of Canadian grains and oilseeds, but it has no plan for how it will get those products to customers, says an industry analyst. Exporters are already having difficulty getting product to market at current levels of demand, said Marlene Boersch, managing partner in […] Read more
EU approves more GM imports but allows members to opt out
The European Union recently delivered what Canada’s grain and oilseed sector views as a good news-bad news announcement on biotechnology approvals. The good news for Canadian farmers is that the EU finally approved 10 new traits for import and renewed seven others. The approvals were the first since November, 2013. The traits had been pending […] Read more
Hail, rain take toll on Indian crops
India’s chickpea supply to fall short of expectations by millions of tonnes
India has released a new estimate for the damage caused by March hail and rain storms and it is a big number. The government estimates 47 million acres of cropland was affected by the storms, which is double its previous estimate. To put that number in perspective, growers in Saskatchewan are expected to seed about […] Read more
