Abbotsford | Reuters — Rescuers and workers in British Columbia were still trying to reach 18,000 people stranded on Thursday after floods and mudslides destroyed roads, houses and bridges in what could be the costliest natural disaster in the country’s history. Receding flood waters were helping rescue efforts, but the downpour blocked off entire towns […] Read more
Thousands in B.C. still stranded by flood waters
'We are not out of this by a long shot'
Deere’s striking U.S. workers accept revised offer
Operations to resume Wednesday night, company says
Production and maintenance workers at 14 Deere and Co. plants are expected to return to work starting Wednesday night after voting to approve a new contract. United Auto Workers (UAW), which represents over 10,000 Deere employees in the U.S., said late Wednesday its members voted 61 per cent in favour of new six-year collective bargaining […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soy, wheat up on strong exports, inflation worries
CBOT corn also rises
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures jumped 2.1 per cent on Wednesday to their highest in nearly seven weeks, supported by fresh export deals and strength in the domestic cash market. Wheat and corn futures were also strong, with wheat recovering from a pullback on Tuesday to top the nine-year high it hit Monday. […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs fall, live cattle firm
Chicago | Reuters — CME lean hog futures fell on Wednesday, hit by profit-taking after rallying in the previous session, traders said. Live cattle futures were firm but gains were kept in check as the market consolidated near the 4-1/2-year highs hit earlier in the week. CME December lean hogs fell 1.55 cents to 76.175 […] Read more
B.C. calls emergency, expects more deaths from 500-year flood
Some livestock die, more are expected to be euthanized
Abbotsford | Reuters — The death toll in Canada from massive floods and landslides that devastated parts of British Columbia is set to rise, with the province declaring a state of emergency on Wednesday. Authorities have so far confirmed one death after torrential rains and mudslides destroyed roads and left several mountain towns isolated. At […] Read more
ICE weekly outlook: Canola trade starts rolling out of January early
MarketsFarm — Action has begun somewhat sooner than expected for traders rolling out of the January canola contract on ICE Futures, according to trader Ken Ball of PI Financial in Winnipeg. The main reasons are the massive size of the long position and tight supplies of canola. However, he wasn’t entirely sure if the price […] Read more
CBOT weekly outlook: Soybean purchases steal wheat’s thunder
MarketsFarm — While Chicago wheat is hitting new contract highs, soybeans are the standout commodity on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT), according to one trader. Over the weekend, there were rumblings that China had purchased five cargoes worth of soybeans earlier in the week. Three nights later, that number had grown, which caused soybean […] Read more
Striking Deere workers set for crucial vote
Equipment maker mulling options
Reuters — About 10,000 striking workers at Deere and Co. will vote again on Wednesday to approve or reject a modified contract proposed by the company, as the longest strike in more than three decades forces the world’s largest farm equipment maker to consider other options. Deere has not publicly commented on changes to its […] Read more
Grain flow uncertain as floods halt B.C. rail, road traffic
MarketsFarm — It’s too early yet to determine the effect of massive floods in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland on grain movement, according to the company monitoring Canada’s grain handling and transportation system. Up to 200 millimetres of rain earlier this week have triggered mudslides and cut access to rail lines and highways east of Vancouver. […] Read more
Small navy of farmers rescues cattle in flood-hit B.C.
Abbotsford | Reuters — A flotilla of motorboats, canoes, dinghies and jet-skis helmed by farmers raced to move dozens of trapped cows from frigid waters as floods hit British Columbia. After a month’s worth of rain in two days, the downpours triggered widespread flooding. Mudslides hit cities and towns across the province. Among the worst-affected […] Read more
Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field
