CBOT July 2021 soybeans (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2) and November 2021 soybeans (yellow line). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybeans firm on long-term forecast, China demand

Wheat mixed on winter crop harvest, spring wheat drought

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures advanced on Monday on renewed buying by China and as concerns lingered about dry conditions in western portions of the Midwest farm belt despite scattered storms over the weekend. Corn futures were mostly lower as rain in the central corn belt boosted crop prospects, while wheat was mixed […] Read more

A hawk on a fence post in Saskatchewan’s Qu’Appelle Valley. (Bobloblaw/iStock/Getty Images)

Indigenous-led ag projects get federal funding

Funding to support business planning and other studies

Sixteen projects to help support Indigenous-led food system initiatives will receive $4 million from the federal government. “Our government is working to create a more inclusive agriculture sector that respects the values of Indigenous Peoples,” Agriculture Minister Marie Claude Bibeau said in a statement Friday. “These investments are intended to ensure that Indigenous Peoples have […] Read more


Two Raven OMNiPower (formerly DOT) machines at work in the field. (RavenPrecision.com)

CNH to buy Raven Industries

Heavy equipment maker to pay US$2.1 billion for precision ag firm

The parent company behind Case IH, New Holland, Flexi-Coil and Steyr farm equipment is set to absorb a significant U.S. supplier of precision ag tech to its product lines and others. CNH Industrial on Monday announced a friendly all-cash agreement to buy up all shares in Sioux Falls, South Dakota-based Raven Industries for about US$2.1 […] Read more

A vineyard at Naramata in B.C.’s Okanagan Valley. (File photo by Dave Bedard)

B.C. again waives ag income threshold for farm properties

Some farms otherwise risked property tax reclassification

British Columbia farmers who’ve taken pandemic-induced losses in farm income will be able to keep their farm properties classified as such for another tax year. The province on Monday announced that for the second year running, it will waive the minimum farm income thresholds normally required for B.C. properties to be classified as farms for […] Read more



(LIVINUS/iStock/Getty Images)

Businesses, U.S. legislators fume as Canada extends travel ban

Trudeau stands firm on ban's extension

Ottawa | Reuters — Canada is extending a ban on nonessential travel with the United States and the rest of the world until July 21, officials said on Friday, prompting frustration from businesses and U.S. legislators. Canada is under pressure from companies and the tourism industry to ease the ban, which was imposed in March […] Read more


CME August 2021 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-day moving average (dark red line), CME July 2021 lean hogs (pink open/high/low/close) and CME lean hog index (black line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Live cattle up on bargain-buying

CME lean hogs mostly lower; feeder cattle down on corn's bounce

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures firmed on bargain-buying on Friday after a steep plunge a day earlier, with expectations of steady to higher cash cattle prices next week adding support, traders said. “The market is chopping around but it looks like it needs to go back to the upside to price in […] Read more

Lisa Thompson. (Lisathompsonmpp.ca video screengrab via YouTube)

Ontario names new ag minister in shuffle

Lisa Thompson replaces Ernie Hardeman

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has drawn another aggie from his existing cabinet to replace Ernie Hardeman as his agriculture minister. Ford on Friday announced a major cabinet shuffle, dropping Hardeman, the long-time MPP for Oxford, from the cabinet table and naming Lisa Thompson as minister for agriculture, food and rural affairs. Thompson, who until Friday […] Read more


CBOT July 2021 corn (candlesticks) with CBOT July 2021 wheat (orange line) and July 2021 soybeans (dark green line, left column). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn, soy, wheat up after sell-off

Some traders feel Thursday's sell-off overdone

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn, soybean and wheat futures rose sharply on Friday, rebounding from steep declines a day earlier on bargain-buying ahead of the weekend and uncertainty about weather in the Midwest crop belt, analysts said. Fresh export interest lent support as this week’s break in futures appeared to stimulate demand. Chinese state-owned […] Read more

Storage tanks at a PBF Energy refinery at Delaware City, Delaware on Aug. 21, 2015. (File photo: Reuters/Charles Mostoller)

U.S. refiners amass biofuel liability as Biden mulls relief

Open RIN positions could hit refiners' earnings

New York | Reuters — U.S. merchant refiners have amassed up to a US$1.6 billion shortfall in the credits they will need to comply with U.S. biofuel laws, according to a Reuters review of corporate disclosures, an apparent bet that the Biden administration could let them off the hook or that credit prices will fall. […] Read more