BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) — Argentina’s recently planted wheat fields need more rains to ensure good yields, observers said, at a time of high global demand and dwindling stocks at home. “If we don’t get rains in the next two to three weeks we will start worrying about yields,” said David Hughes, who manages 7,000 hectares […] Read more
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Argentina wheat crop yields seen lower without more rain
Western Canadian canola, wheat ripen in ideal weather
WINNIPEG (Reuters) — Western Canada’s canola and wheat crops look to ripen this week in greenhouse-like conditions, weather forecasts show, increasing the chances of bumper crops. Despite delayed spring planting and cool weather earlier in summer that slowed crop development, Canada is set to reap its biggest wheat crop in 22 years and the largest […] Read more
Harsh weather could trim U.S. crop yield prospects
CHICAGO (Reuters) — U.S. corn and soybean conditions were likely to get worse because of modest rainfall over the weekend and drier weather this week, an agricultural meteorologist said on Tuesday. “I don’t think there will be any major improvements,” said John Dee, meteorologist for Global Weather Monitoring. “If anything, conditions will go down again.” […] Read more
Ukraine sees 2013 grain harvest at all-time high
KIEV (Reuters) — Ukraine’s agriculture ministry raised its forecast for this year’s grain harvest to an all-time high of 57.9 million tonnes and reported a brisker pace of exports at the start of the 2013-14 season. The new forecast was significantly higher than the previous record of 56.7 million achieved in 2011 and was up […] Read more
Russia’s Uralkali threatens court action in Belarus potash dispute
MOSCOW (Reuters) — Russia’s Uralkali said it was prepared to go to court to defend itself against attacks by Belarus in the deepening dispute between the ex-Soviet states over the collapse of the world’s largest potash alliance. The company said Belarus was guilty of political persecution after the country detained Uralkali chief executive Vladislav Baumgertner […] Read more
Starboard lines up rival buyers for Smithfield Foods acquisition
CHICAGO (Reuters) — Activist hedge fund Starboard Value LP said it was is working with investors interested in paying “substantially” more for Smithfield Foods Inc. than the price China’s Shuanghui International Holdings Ltd. had agreed to. Starboard, a New York-based fund that holds a 5.7 percent stake in Smithfield, said in a letter to the […] Read more
Manitoba shocks cattle producers, axes agency tasked with planning slaughter plant
The Manitoba government is shutting down an agency that was supposed to boost cattle slaughter capacity in the province. In an announcement released Aug. 30, Manitoba’s agriculture minister Ron Kostyshyn said he’s shutting down the Manitoba Cattle Enhancement Council and will terminate a $2 levy on cattle sold in the province effective Sept. 1. “As […] Read more
IGC raises global wheat, corn 2013-14 forecasts
LONDON (Reuters) — The International Grains Council on Friday raised its forecast for 2013-14 global wheat production by four million tonnes to 691 million, reflecting upward revisions to crops in Canada, the European Union, Kazakhstan and Ukraine. The global wheat crop is now expected to be almost six percent above the previous season’s 654 million […] Read more
More Sask. pigs make way to China
When pigs fly, you say? That day might be upon us. Almost 900 Saskatchewan pigs flew across the Pacific Ocean recently, after Saskatoon swine genetics company Fast Genetics sold a shipment of 868 breeding pigs to China. The pigs, from the company’s facilities near Spiritwood, Sask., included 710 sows and 158 boars. They were first […] Read more
Credit unions score well on service
Canadian credit unions have scored at or near the top of most categories in a survey of financial institutions in Canada. Ipsos Reid, a polling and research firm, questioned consumers about service from all financial institutions including the five big banks, credit unions and other smaller lenders. On Aug. 29, the results were in and […] Read more
