Revenues at Saskatchewan’s largest company, Federated Co-operatives Limited, were down by $1.7 billion, or 16 percent, in 2015, the result of a downturn in the energy sector, weaker crude oil prices and the resulting negative effects on FCL’s Co-op Refinery Complex in Regina. Nonetheless, the company still reported net earnings of $539 million last year, […] Read more
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Oil slide cuts revenue at Federated Co-op
Vandervalk family wins environmental award in Alberta
VXV Farms and the Vandervalk family of southern Alberta are the 2016 environmental stewardship award winners as determined by Alberta Beef Producers. The award was presented Dec. 14 in Calgary and recognizes operations that show leadership in caring for the land while maintaining productivity and profitability. Jack and Merry Vandervalk and their son, Gerald, and […] Read more
WTO deal agrees to end ag export subsidies
The World Trade Organization’s 10th ministerial conference concluded Dec. 19 in Nairobi, Kenya, with an agreement to eliminate agricultural export subsidies. Developed countries will eliminate any remaining export subsidies beginning Jan. 1, except for a handful of dairy, pork and processed products. Developing countries have until the end of 2018, according to WTO documents. Director-general […] Read more
New farm ownership law comes into effect in Sask. Jan. 4
Saskatchewan’s amended Farm Security Act will come into force Jan. 4 after the government proclaimed the legislation passed during the recent fall sitting of the Legislature. The changes make it clear that pension plans, administrators of pension fund assets and larger trusts are ineligible to buy farmland in the province. They also define “having an […] Read more
WTO backs agricultural reforms, split on Doha
NAIROBI, Dec 19 (Reuters) – The World Trade Organization reached deals on agricultural export subsidies, food aid and other issues on Saturday, capping a ministerial conference in the Kenyan capital where rich and poor countries had been split over the path of trade reform. The four-day Nairobi conference was extended by a final non-stop 24-hour […] Read more
Alberta Beef Producers elects new executive
Alberta Beef Producers elected a new executive at its annual meeting held in Calgary Dec. 7-9. Bob Lowe of Nanton is the new chair and Roland Calliau of Valleyview is vice-chair. Charlie Christie of Trochu is finance chair. In addition, the winner of the environmental stewardship award was VXV Farms and the Vandervalk family located […] Read more
Syngenta CEO says prepared to discuss deals with whole industry
ZURICH, Dec 18 (Reuters) – Agrochemicals company Syngenta AG is ready to discuss deals with anyone in the industry, including the world’s largest seed company Monsanto Co, its interim chief executive John Ramsay was quoted saying in an interview on Friday. The seeds and crop industry is undergoing a major shake-up, with DuPont and Dow […] Read more
ChemChina sweetens bid for Syngenta to $44 bln – Bloomberg
Dec 18 (Reuters) – State-owned China National Chemical Corp has raised its offer to buy Syngenta AG by about $2 billion, to $44 billion, proposing a two-stage takeover of the agrochemical company, Bloomberg reported, citing sources. ChemChina has offered 470 Swiss francs ($472) per share to buy 70 percent of Syngenta with an option to […] Read more
Brazil dryness boosts oilseeds
North American oilseeds experienced a happy Friday, while U.S. stock markets tumbled. But while the declines in U.S. stocks might have been propelled by fear of global economic weakness, the rise in the oilseeds was also a response to fear. “The beans were supported by talk of dryness in Brazil,” said Errol Anderson of Pro […] Read more
CME live cattle futures rally by 3-cent limit before report
CHICAGO, Dec 18 (Reuters) – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures settled up by their 3-cents per lb price limit on Friday, driven by short-covering and technical buying, traders said. Investors tweaked positions ahead of Friday’s U.S. Department of Agriculture monthly Cattle-On-Feed report at 2 p.m. CST (2000 GMT). Spot December ended at 120.150 cents, […] Read more
