With two of the last four years a washout for many producers, it’s time to rethink crop insurance and risk management programs in Manitoba, says the province’s agriculture minister. It’s becoming clear that existing business risk management programs … can’t adequately meet farmer’s recovery needs,” said minister Ron Kostyshyn during a press conference at Ag […] Read more
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Manitoba reviews risk management
CP launches land development plan
Canadian Pacific Railway has a plan to convert surplus North American real estate into revenue. The Calgary-based railway company announced Jan. 20 that it has formed a joint venture with Toronto-based Dream Unlimited Corp., a publicly traded real estate company that specializes in office, industrial and retail space. The arrangement is aimed at developing CP’s […] Read more
U.S. plans increased oversight of chicken production
CHICAGO (Reuters) — U.S. meat inspectors are set to toughen their standards for the nation’s poultry production in March in a bid to reduce foodborne illnesses such as salmonella, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture proposals released on Wednesday. Under new guidelines, the USDA plans to begin testing raw chicken parts for salmonella after an […] Read more
Scientists create ‘genetic firewall’ for new forms of life
NEW YORK (Reuters) — A year after creating organisms that use a genetic code different from every other living thing, two teams of scientists have achieved another “synthetic biology” milestone: They created bacteria that cannot survive without a specific manmade chemical, potentially overcoming a major obstacle to wider use of genetically modified organisms. The advance, […] Read more
More downside than upside for Prairie flaxseed bids
Winnipeg, Jan. 20 – Flaxseed prices remain strong in Western Canada, but that strength is relative and there are more bearish than bullish factors in the background which should weigh on values over the next few months. Spot flaxseed bids can currently be found in the $13-plus per bushel area, while new crop is in […] Read more
CME live cattle bounce with beef prices; hogs mixed
By Theopolis Waters CHICAGO, Jan 21 (Reuters) – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle closed higher on Wednesday, lifted by short-covering stirred by the morning’s wholesale beef price rebound, traders said. February live cattle closed up 0.650 cent per pound to 153.700 cents, and April 0.800 cents higher at 151.875 cents. Wednesday morning’s Choice wholesale beef […] Read more
Plunging loonie pushes canola futures higher, but spring wheat futures lower
Jan 21 (Reuters) – ICE Canada canola futures rose on Wednesday, with the March contract setting a six-month high as the Canadian dollar tumbled to its weakest since April 2009, making canola more attractive on the export market, traders said. The currency fell after the Bank of Canada shocked financial markets with an interest rate […] Read more
Obama’s top Asia adviser: goal is for complete trade pact in 2015
WASHINGTON (Reuters) — U.S. President Barack Obama’s top Asia adviser said on Wednesday the president’s request for trade promotion authority shows the administration’s goal is to complete a major trade pact with Asia this year. Evan Medeiros, senior director for Asia at the U.S. National Security Council, asked about the Trans-Pacific Partnership at an event […] Read more
More guarantees wanted for producer cars, short lines
RED DEER — Alberta farmers want the federal government to order the major railways to allocate 20 percent of its cars to producer car shippers and short-line railway operators. A resolution that passed unanimously at a recent Alberta Federation of Agriculture meeting said such a move would allow small grain industry players to compete. Reg […] Read more
Loonie down almost two cents on surprise BoC rate drop
By Commodity News Service Canada Winnipeg, January 21 – The Canadian dollar saw enormous losses on Wednesday, dropping nearly two full cents against the US dollar, just a day after dropping a penny. The Canadian dollar’s losses were linked to news that the Bank of Canada unexpectedly cut its key interest rate to 0.75 per […] Read more
