Crops , Latest & Featured - Canadian Cattlemen

U.S. grains: Soy hits five-month high on technicals, fund buying

By Michael Hirtzer March 22, 2016

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. grain prices were mostly higher on Tuesday, with soybeans rising to their highest since October, on technical buying and worries that cold temperatures could damage crops in the southwestern portion of the Great Plains wheat belt. Corn and wheat trimmed earlier gains on light selling from technical traders and from […] Read more

Crops

Univar buys Prairie fertilizer distributor Nexus Ag

By Canadian Cattlemen Staff March 22, 2016

U.S. chemical distribution giant Univar has bought its way further into the Prairie crop input business by taking over Saskatoon-based fertilizer wholesaler Nexus Ag. Nexus Ag, in business in the West since 1997, deals in various North American companies’ specialty fertilizers, potash, phosphates, liquid and soluble nutrients and micronutrients such as copper, zinc and boron, […] Read more

Crops, Machinery

Budget to boost ag research infrastructure, rural broadband

By Canadian Cattlemen Staff March 22, 2016

Funds to fix up Canada’s agricultural research stations and food safety labs and a new program to boost rural broadband coverage are among the nuggets for the farming sector in Tuesday’s federal budget. Overall, the Liberals’ first budget is based on $287.7 billion in revenues for 2016-17, against $291.4 billion in program expenses and $25.7 […] Read more

Crops, Reuters, Weather

Panama Canal sets depth limit on ships due to drought

By Reuters March 21, 2016

Panama City | Reuters — The Panama Canal will next month impose new draft restrictions on ships due to falling water levels at nearby lakes that form part of the waterway, the authority that administers the canal said in a statement Monday. Ships seeking to cross the waterway must comply with a maximum depth limit […] Read more

Barley, Crops, Weather

Alberta to launch malt barley insurance

By Canadian Cattlemen Staff March 21, 2016

Alberta is set to launch Canada’s first crop insurance product for malt barley this year. The province’s Agriculture Financial Services Corp. (AFSC) last week said it will now provide insurance coverage for a malting end-use for growers with malt barley contracts. The coverage is subject to a contract from a licensed buyer, with a minimum […] Read more

Crops, Potatoes

Canada clears Simplot’s spot-resistant GM potato

By Canadian Cattlemen Staff March 21, 2016

Potatoes modified for reduced bruising and black spots, and for lower levels of a chemical linked to health risks in baked spuds or fries, have picked up federal approvals. The plant science arm of U.S. potato giant J.R. Simplot announced Monday its first-generation Innate Gen. 1 potato varieties have passed food and feed safety assessments […] Read more

(Michael Thompson photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Crops, Markets, Reuters

U.S. grains: Wheat jumps as colder weather threatens crop

By Michael Hirtzer March 21, 2016

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat jumped as much as one per cent on Monday, led by gains in K.C. hard red winter wheat as extremely cold weather threatened to curb yields in parts of the southern U.S. Plains growing region already suffering from dry conditions. Wheat futures pared early gains on technical selling, keeping […] Read more

Crops, Markets, Reuters, Spring Wheat

India might extend wheat import tax beyond March

By Mayank Bhardwaj March 21, 2016

New Delhi | Reuters — India is likely to extend a wheat import tax beyond March to shield its domestic farmers from cheap imports, particularly as wheat from the new-season harvest will become available by the end of this month, government sources said Monday. After consulting the food, farm and trade ministries, the finance ministry […] Read more

Crops, Markets, Reuters

Louis Dreyfus reports lower profits, seeks partners

By Gus Trompiz March 21, 2016

Paris | Reuters — Louis Dreyfus is seeking partners for some of its businesses to help the commodity trading group to weather a market downturn that hit full-year profits. Lower prices, plentiful supply and faltering economic growth in emerging economies have put pressure on commodity traders such as Louis Dreyfus that collect, export and process […] Read more

(Photo courtesy General Mills via Flickr)

Crops, Reuters

General Mills to label GMOs in U.S. products

By Lisa Baertlein, GFM Network News March 18, 2016

Reuters — General Mills on Friday said it would begin putting labels on its products that contain genetically engineered ingredients, a move that comes days after U.S. senators failed to advance legislation aimed at blocking Vermont from requiring such labels on July 1. U.S. consumer are calling for greater transparency around food production and sourcing, […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Hog futures hit contract highs on shock herd decline

Alberta Crop Report: Harvest more than three-quarters finished

NFU says proposed plant breeders’ rights come at farmers’ expense

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