BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) — Argentine farmers expect China to soon approve their one remaining variety of genetically modified corn yet to be certified for import by the commodities-hungry Asian country. Corn growers across Argentina’s vast Pampas farm belt want to push quickly into the Chinese market while fellow grain exporter Brazil is stuck on the […] Read more
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Argentine farmers see green light for more corn to China
One version of U.S. farm bill would legalize hemp research
One version of the U.S. farm bill now being considered in Washington would allow American university researchers to grow industrial hemp, says an industry lobbyist. Earlier this summer, the House of Representatives passed a version of the farm bill with an amendment to legalize hemp production for research purposes. The vote was 216 to 208. […] Read more
Every up and coming food product needs a taste tester
EDMONTON — The hard work of developing a new food product may be for naught if it tastes lousy. Having the products taste tested by consumer testers is one more step to ensuring the product will be a success, said Nicole Gaudette, a senior sensory scientist with Alberta Agriculture. The department uses more than 2,000 […] Read more
Earnings up for Weyburn Inland Terminal
Drier growing conditions in southeastern Saskatchewan have improved returns from last year for the farmer owned Weyburn Inland Terminal. After a pair of flood-affected years, WIT reported after tax earnings of $1.474 million on sales of more than $120 million for the first two quarters of 2013. That was an increase in earnings of $129,000 […] Read more
Australian opposition promises tighter foreign farm investment rules
CANBERRA (Reuters) — Australia’s conservative opposition, favoured to win power in an election Sept. 7, will tighten scrutiny of foreign investment into the country’s farm sector over concerns of rising interest from China in Australian agriculture. Opposition leader Tony Abbott confirmed his Liberal-National Party coalition would significantly lower the threshold for land purchases to be […] Read more
Natural gas bill to go up in Sask.
Natural gas bills in Saskatchewan will rise this fall after the government approved SaskEnergy’s application for a two-year delivery service rate increase. This is the fee the corporation charges to deliver gas rather than the commodity rate for the gas itself. The commodity rate will stay at $3.82 per gigajoule, the lowest since 2000. The […] Read more
Potash market turbulence expected, followed by price drop
BEIJING/MUMBAI (Reuters) — The global potash market faces short-term turbulence due to a dispute between major exporters Russia and Belarus before a definitive collapse of the sector’s once-mighty cartel brings prices for the fertilizer ingredient down sharply. Belarus this week detained the chief executive of Russia’s Uralkali, the world’s top potash producer, accusing him of […] Read more
European wheat crop larger than feared after tough weather
HAMBURG (Reuters) — The European Union will bring in a good quality harvest, bigger than last year’s crop, despite fears dramatic weather swings had damaged plants, observers said on Wednesday. “Wheat had to face a very long winter, a wet spring and then a blasting hot and dry summer start,” one trader said. “But harvest […] Read more
FCL buys crop input centres from Viterra
Federated Co-operatives Ltd. has entered into an agreement to purchase 17 of Viterra’s crop input centres. “This agreement enhances our federation’s agri-business presence across the Prairies,” Ron Healey, associated vice-president of ag and home products at FCL, said in a press release. “We are pleased to be acquiring these assets and look forward to acquainting […] Read more
Investment firm selling Sask. farmland
An Alberta-based investment company is selling more than 19,000 acres of farmland in Saskatchewan. Calgary-based Agcapita is in the process of winding up Farmland Fund I, the first of four farmland investment funds under the company’s management. The RRSP eligible fund was launched in early 2008 and deployed roughly $10 million in investment capital, which […] Read more
