
U.S. grains: Corn and soy mixed, wheat down
Wheats lower on weather view for U.S. Plains
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean and corn futures closed mixed on Monday, with nearby contracts firming on support from tight supplies and strength in the cash market, while forecasts for warm weather that will boost crop development in the U.S. Midwest pressured new-crop issues, traders said. “The outlook warmed up for the Midwest over […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Live cattle futures close to unchanged
CME June lean hog futures fall
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures settled close to unchanged on Monday, with attempts at a bargain-buying rally fizzling out after hitting some key resistance points. Hog futures were lower, notching their third straight day of declines on a technical setback. Cattle futures had weakened along with corn futures to end […] Read more

Ex-GFO CEO to manage Seeds Canada
Barry Senft to help build up merged seed-industry group
The four Canadian seed industry organizations now operating as Seeds Canada have named their first organizer-in-chief. Barry Senft, whose resume in Canadian agriculture includes stints as CEO for Grain Farmers of Ontario, executive director for the Canadian International Grains Institute, chief commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission and second vice-president for Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, becomes […] Read more

Tory MP’s bill on farm transfer tax treatment moves ahead
Private member's bill now awaits Senate approval
A Manitoba Conservative MP’s bill to standardize the tax treatment for sales of farms and other small businesses has cleared the House of Commons and is en route to the Senate. Brandon-Souris MP Larry Maguire’s Bill C-208, which was introduced for first reading in February last year, passed third reading in the Commons on Wednesday. […] Read more

Forecast, flea beetles complicate canola timing
Dry conditions make ideal seeding time difficult to peg
Drought conditions, and the odds of more to come, have some Prairie canola growers pondering when to roll the dice on seeding, if they want to do more than feed the flea beetles. Small-seeded crops, such as canola, have garnered particular concern from agronomists and producers worried about germination, given power dry topsoil across much […] Read more

CN bid for U.S. railway poses greater risk to competition, DOJ says
Reuters — The U.S. Department of Justice said on Friday that Canadian National Railway’s bid for U.S. railway operator Kansas City Southern appears to pose greater risks to competition than a rival agreement with Canadian Pacific Railway. The development comes as KCS on Thursday accepted CN’s $33.6 billion acquisition offer, upending the $29 billion deal […] Read more

Barge backlog starts moving as Mississippi River reopens
Over 1,000 barges waiting to pass
Chicago | Reuters — The Mississippi River reopened to vessel traffic near Memphis on Friday, the U.S. Coast Guard said, ending a shutdown of part of the waterway that caused a backlog of more than 1,000 barges carrying oil, corn and other goods. The Coast Guard said the river is open to all vessel traffic […] Read more

U.S. grains: Corn tumbles on long liquidation
CBOT soy, wheat modestly higher
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures fell for a third straight session on Friday, with the benchmark July contract hitting a two-week low on fund-driven long liquidation amid easing concerns about dwindling supplies, analysts said. Soybean and wheat futures closed higher. Chicago Board of Trade July corn futures settled down 31 cents at $6.43-3/4 […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Live cattle down, feeders up with corn
CME lean hog futures down
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures extended losses on Friday on long liquidation that also dragged down corn futures, analysts said. It was the second consecutive day that cattle futures followed declines in the Chicago Board of Trade corn market, which has retreated from eight-year highs reached last week. “Cattle got […] Read more

U.S. barge backup worsens as Mississippi River shut near Memphis
Chicago | Reuters — A traffic jam on the lower Mississippi River swelled to 771 barges on Thursday as a fractured bridge near Memphis closed the waterway that is crucial for U.S. crop exports. The shutdown fueled concerns about shipping U.S. grain and soy to export markets at a time when global inventories are slim […] Read more