A devastating earthquake and tsunami in northern Japan caused investors to rush to safe haven investments on Friday causing commodity futures, including crops, to fall. There are at least a 1,000 dead and hundreds missing and many thousands homeless. The tsunami engulfed towns and devastated infrastructure such as ports, oil refineries and roads. The northern […] Read more
Daily news
Japan earthquake slams grain markets, closing a down week
Canola dips following USDA report
Wheat and corn posted significant losses, canola dipped and soybeans edged slightly higher following the release of the monthly U.S. Department of Agriculture supply and demand report. Signs of the global economic revival potentially derailing generally rattled investors. They were reducing their exposure to risk investments and looking for safe havens. Canola dropped sharply early […] Read more
Liberals want GM alfalfa moratorium to allow study
After some partisan bickering, MPs on the House of Commons agriculture committee began debate March 10 on a Liberal motion calling for a moratorium on approval of genetically modified alfalfa. And despite the partisan divisions, the views across parties were not all that dissimilar. Liberal Wayne Easter, who moved the motion at the committee, said […] Read more
Cattle and horticulture industries get federal funding
Agriculture minister Gerry Ritz sprinkled taxpayers’ money around March 10 when he spoke at two national agricultural conventions within an hour and announced close to $9 million in funding. The cattle industry was the biggest winner. At the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association annual meeting, the minister announced $8.1 million in funding for information and research projects. […] Read more
Economy worries and USDA report weaken most grain prices
Wheat and corn posted significant losses, canola dipped and soybeans edged slightly higher following the release of the monthly U.S. Department of Agriculture supply and demand report. Signs of the global economic revival potentially derailing generally rattled investors. They were reducing their exposure to risk investments and looking for safe havens. Canola dropped sharply early […] Read more
No vote on Daylight Savings Time for Sask.
Saskatchewan voters will not have their say this fall on whether the province switches to daylight saving time.The government had promised a referendum in the November election, but a recent poll found that two-thirds of those surveyed didn’t want to switch and only 27 percent supported the move. Municipal affairs minister Darryl Hickie said the […] Read more
Monsanto taking precautions to keep GM alfalfa out of Canada
Monsanto is taking all the necessary precautions to ensure that Roundup Ready alfalfa doesn’t wind up on Canadian fields, says a seed dealer in Montana. Dale Strouf, operations manager at Heartland Seed in Moccasin, Mont., said there are plans to monitor farmers who buy the genetically modified forage seed. “Once a producer has purchased a […] Read more
USDA report viewed as slightly negative
Grain and oilseed futures were falling Thursday morning on a slightly bearish U.S. Department of Agriculture report and a pull back in equities. May canola was down $4.90 per tonne at $566.60 shortly after 10 AM CST. The USDA’s monthly supply and demand report left the U.S. soybean year end stocks number unchanged, but posted […] Read more
Canola closes down in advance of USDA report
Canola followed soybeans down Wednesday on fund selling in advance of Thursday’s USDA supply and demand report and the South American harvest. Oilseeds are currently the weakest of the major grains due mainly to late season rain that improved South American crop prospects. Brazil and Argentina are harvesting now, putting new soybeans on the world […] Read more
Oilseeds fall on expectation of big South American crop
Canola followed soybeans down Wednesday on fund selling in advance of Thursday’s USDA supply and demand report and the South American harvest. Oilseeds are currently the weakest of the major grains due mainly to late season rain that improved South American crop prospects. Brazil and Argentina are harvesting now, putting new soybeans on the world […] Read more
