Analysts are finding it hard to be bearish about crop markets, even if today’s bullishness is ringing alarms. “It’s easy to get caught up (by headlines),” noted Chuck Penner, market analyst with LeftField Commodity Research, at the Manitoba Special Crops Symposium. Penner noted that the price optimism worries him, because that often precedes a market […] Read more
News
Dwindling corn stocks put market on edge
Decontaminate the land
It was a pleasure to chat with you (Barb Glen) . Your expressions in the Dec. 30th issue are a breath of fresh air. “It’s the difference between the stuff under your fingernails and the stuff responsible for all food production, foundations and all futurers!” This is a heavenly truth, and if you continue, you […] Read more
Dikes only option for flooding at Maple Creek
A consultant has recommended building dikes on the west side of Maple Creek, Sask., to avoid flood damage similar to what occurred last summer. Ray Pentland, president of Water Resource Consultants Ltd., said the 2010 flood was a one in 3,700 year event. “The actual rainstorm that was the immediate cause of the flood was […] Read more
Seek lenders who know hog sector
Many hog farmers are no longer scared of their bankers, now that agricultural commodity prices have recovered and profits are flowing. But this is the time to prepare for the next downturn, says a farm finance expert, because if farmers had a crappy lender in the last downturn, they will probably be a crappy lender […] Read more
Riff between food industry, biofuel sector resumes as corn prices rise
A new United States crop supply and demand report has strengthened corn prices and refueled the food versus fuel debate. “It’s certainly heating up again in the United States and around the world,” said Dave Ray, vice-president of public affairs with the American Meat Institute, one of the groups blaming the ethanol industry for rising […] Read more
Syngenta disputes research findings
A U.S. government study that shows insecticidal seed treatments have no effect on soybean yields in South Dakota runs contrary to other research, says a Syngenta spokesperson. Palle Pedersen, Syngenta technical manager for development of seed treatments for corn and soybeans, said field trials on seed treatments have proven that the product does increase soybean […] Read more
Low dollar helps push U.S. beef, pork exports up
CHICAGO, Ill. (Reuters) – This year’s U.S. beef exports could be the highest in eight years. A weak U.S. dollar, improving economies and a growing hunger for meat continues to drive sales, particularly in Asia and the Middle East, said Phil Seng, chief executive officer of the U.S. Meat Export Federation. Pork exports in 2011 […] Read more
Sask. dealership sold
Rocky Mountain Dealerships Inc. has an agreement to buy J &B Equipment Ltd., a Case IH dealership in Kindersley, Sask. J &B had revenues of $18 million for the most recent fiscal year ending Oct. 31. The acquisition is expected to close April 1 and bring the number of dealerships owned by Rocky Mountain to […] Read more
Canfax Report – for Feb. 17, 2011
The weighted average fed steer price rose for the sixth straight week to $106.86 per hundredweight, up $1.11, and heifers rose 67 cents to $106.36. The cash to futures basis is strong in Canada, which is opposite from the United States, where feedlots face challenges as they market in a weak basis environment. Alberta sales […] Read more
Seed treatment not worth cost: study
An American entomologist has concluded that insecticidal seed treatments do not reduce aphid numbers or increase soybean yields. Jonathan Lundgren, who works for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Brookings, South Dakota, said two years of field trials have shown that soybean growers are worse off if they plant seed treated with insecticide because the […] Read more
