Well, I’m not quite sure what to do. S and Ds count again. A few years ago the world stopped making sense to the sane and rational ag commodity analytical community. Ags had traded for what seemed like forever based on the basics of supply and demand fundamentals. A bit more grain getting grown, prices […] Read more
Tag Archives Ag Finance
I’m very disturbed: S and Ds count again
Feeling all ’08y all over again
Crop prices are shooting through the roof again and the world’s financial engine is alarmingly blowing valves and vomiting-out thick oil smoke. I can’t get over how similar the feeling is to mid-2008, even though a lot of the elements are complete opposites. Back in 2008 there was an overall commodity market rally into the […] Read more
U.S. foot-and-mouth scenario would slash prices
Disease would close borders | The U.S.’s growing reliance on pork exports increases potential damage
DES MOINES, Iowa — Imagine losing all pork and beef export markets overnight. Domestic prices would fall to near-zero immediately. Over the course of a year, prices would average just 50 percent of what they were previously. Over four years, 30 percent of hog farmers would need to quit the business before the industry reached […] Read moreLessons learned for Cargill in pink slime’s ‘ick’ factor
Consumers react to media coverage Negative reaction to finely textured beef caused plant closures, job losses
SASKATOON — Mike Martin, Cargill’s director of communications, doesn’t call it pink slime. He calls the meat product by its industry name: finely textured beef. But it was pink slime that caught public attention in March, and pink slime that caused U.S. beef plant closures and job losses when the public reacted to media, blog […] Read moreFormer ag minister to chair security intelligence panel
Chuck Strahl | The former British Columbia MP was also named honorary director of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute
Chuck Strahl scored two more honours last week. Prime minister Stephen Harper named the former British Columbia MP chair of the Security Intelligence Review Committee, which oversees and reviews the operations of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and hears complaints about the spy agency. Strahl was also named an honorary director of the Canadian Agri-Food […] Read moreProducers told to stay abreast of rules on federal pastures
Grazing, construction | Knowing wildlife rules helps minimize disruption
CYPRESS HILLS PROVINCIAL PARK, Sask. — Producers who eventually own land that is now part of the federal pasture system need to stay on top of environmental legislation that affects them. Heather Wiebe, a federal biodiversity extension specialist who has spent 10 years working with pasture managers, said understanding the nuances of legislation such as […] Read moreCanada’s jet biofuel plan continues on course
U.S. military plans in doubt | Senate rejects aviation biofuel costs
Mounting opposition to U.S. military use of biofuel won’t prevent the jet biofuel industry from taking off in Western Canada, says an expert in the field. Promoters of the jet biofuel industry and its associated oilseed crops like camelina and carinata often point to the U.S. military’s interest in the alternative fuel as proof of […] Read moreCervus looks at investing in Australianretailer
Cervus Equipment Corp. is looking into buying an interest in an Australian farm equipment retailer. The Calgary-based company is talking with Windmill Agricultural Unit Trust to buy a 30 percent interest. The assets under consideration include four John Deere dealerships. “The signing of this (letter of intent) represents an opportunity to expand our market reach […] Read more
Viterra 2nd quarter results soar
One of the last financial reports Earnings 18 cents per share, up from eight last year
In what is likely one of its last financial reports before the expected Glencore takeover next month, Viterra Inc.has announced record second quarter results. Net earnings for the quarter year over year were more than double at $67 million compared to $30 million. Earnings before interest, depreciation, taxes and amortization (EBITDA) for the quarter were […] Read moreU.S. hog industry takes program complaints to Canadian officials
The American hog industry brought its complaints about Quebec and Ontario support programs to Canada June 14. However, pork industry leaders do not expect a new trade war to erupt soon. “We certainly aren’t thinking that anything like that is in the offing,” said Canadian Pork Council executive director Martin Rice. The American hog industry […] Read more
