File photo of apple picking in a Quebec orchard. (Noah Burger/iStock/Getty Images)

EU to ban Bayer’s Calypso insecticide

Brussels | Reuters — European Union governments on Tuesday widened the EU ban on neonicotinoid pesticides after deciding not to renew their approval for Bayer’s thiacloprid. Farmers will not be allowed to use the neonic insecticide, sold under the brands Calypso and Biscaya, after April 30, 2020, when its current approval expires. A majority of […] Read more


CBOT December 2019 wheat with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat eases in profit-taking setback

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures declined on Monday on profit taking after three sessions of gains, on concerns about weather-reduced Southern Hemisphere crops that had lifted the market to multi-month highs. Soybeans were mixed amid worries about reduced yields and late harvesting, while corn drifted lower on dull demand. Both markets remained in […] Read more



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Grains, oilseeds not included in Greens’ plans for biofuel

The federal Green Party’s plan to move Canada to zero emissions by 2050 supports the near-term use of plant-based biofuels — “but not from food that could otherwise feed Canadians.” Ahead of Monday’s federal election, the party released a climate action plan dubbed “Mission: Possible” that would ban the use of internal combustion engines in […] Read more

(Country Guide file photo)

Cash wheat bids: Red spring gains, durum eases

MarketsFarm — Wheat bids in Western Canada were mostly higher for the week ended Thursday. Strong gains were seen in Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) and Canada Prairie Spring Red (CPRS) wheats, while Canada Western Amber Durum (CWAD) was steady to lower. The Canadian dollar gained almost nine-10ths of a cent during the week, closing […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

Corn exports expected down in AAFC’s October outlook

MarketsFarm — Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) on Friday issued its October outlook for principal field crops, with some revisions compared to the September report. One of the most notable numbers from AAFC was the drop in 2019-20 corn exports, which were estimated to be about 1.5 million tonnes, over 20 per cent less compared […] Read more



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As ‘Cannabis 2.0’ kicks off, industry strangled by limited retail outlets

Reuters — A year after Canada legalized use of recreational marijuana, cannabis stocks have lost half their market value, and investors betting that the launch of higher-margin pot-infused drinks and other products will quickly lift shares may be in for a bumpy ride. So-called cannabis 2.0 — legalization of marijuana derivatives including edibles, beverages, extracts […] Read more