Crops , Latest & Featured - Canadian Cattlemen

U.S. grains: Prices rise on short-covering, slow loadings in Brazil

By Michael Hirtzer February 16, 2016

Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. soybean futures climbed to a 1-1/2-week high on Tuesday while wheat and corn each gained about one per cent, boosted by investor short-covering and a backlog of export loadings at Brazilian ports. Prices rose as trade resumed following a three-day weekend due to Monday’s U.S. Presidents Day holiday. They were […] Read more

Cereals, Crops, Markets

Prairie wheat bids drift down with U.S. futures

By Phil Franz-Warkentin February 16, 2016

CNS Canada — Cash spring wheat bids across Western Canada edged lower in most locations during the week ended Friday, as losses in the U.S. futures weighed on values. However, basis levels saw some slight improvement in many locations, as Canadian wheat has continued to see more stable export demand compared to U.S.-origin supplies. Average […] Read more

Crops, Weather

Ice-free Great Lakes mean sunny outlook for seaway

By Jade Markus February 16, 2016

CNS Canada — A lack of ice on the Great Lakes means Canada’s St. Lawrence Seaway will start shipping grain earlier than last year. Last year the seaway’s opening was delayed until the beginning of April, due to the amount of ice in the system, according to Bruce Hodgson, director of market development for St. […] Read more

Sunset in Egypt on the Nile River south of Luxor. (CIA.gov)

Crops, Markets, Reuters, Spring Wheat, Winter Wheat

Egypt rejects Canadian wheat shipment over ergot

By maha-el-dahan February 16, 2016

Abu Dhabi | Reuters –– Egypt’s agricultural quarantine authority has rejected a shipment of Canadian wheat, saying it contained traces of the fungus ergot, a trade source said and official documents obtained by Reuters showed. The move by the quarantine authority is the latest in a series of rejections, which have caused serious concerns over […] Read more

Crops, Markets, Reuters, Spring Wheat

Ex-Iraq grain board chief to be investigated in graft case

By Reuters February 15, 2016

CORRECTED, Feb. 20, 2016 — Baghdad | Reuters — Iraq’s acting trade minister has referred former grain board chief Saad al-Hamdani and 16 unnamed individuals for investigation over suspected transportation of illegal wheat shipments, a ministry statement said Monday. The grain board is responsible for purchasing billions of dollars worth of commodities internationally and from […] Read more

Missing equipment found on a rural property southwest of Saskatoon in 2016 was valued at over $1.2 million. (Photo courtesy Saskatoon RCMP)

Hay, Livestock, Machinery

Sask. rancher charged as missing equipment found

By Canadian Cattlemen Staff February 13, 2016

A western Saskatchewan cattle rancher faces charges of theft and possession of stolen goods after the discovery of missing tractors, balers, trucks and other equipment Thursday. Iain Stables, 38, is due in Provincial Court in Saskatoon on April 14 to answer to 29 criminal charges, Saskatoon RCMP said in a release Friday. Saskatoon and Warman […] Read more

Features, Forages, Livestock

Big on forage brassicas

Versatility and volume outweigh any risks involved

By Debbie Furber February 12, 2016

Seeing is believing for Graeme Finn, who says New Zealanders are on to a good thing with forage brassicas for winter grazing in their grass-based systems that yield massive tons of high-quality beef, lamb and milk from the country’s tiny land base. A trip there four years ago convinced him that if forage brassicas are […] Read more

Averaged sea surface temperatures and sea surface temperature anomalies worldwide for the week centred on Feb. 3. (CPC.ncep.noaa.gov)

Crops, Weather

Timing of La Nina to play key role in Prairie moisture

By Dave Sims February 12, 2016

CNS Canada –– As the El Nino weather phenomena slowly loosens its grip across Western Canada, many weather watchers say its impact has been somewhat underwhelming. However, one meteorologist said its lingering presence, coupled with the pending arrival of the La Nina weather event, may still play a large role in determining how much moisture […] Read more

Crops

Re-evaluation leads to retirement for Amitrol herbicide

By Canadian Cattlemen Staff February 11, 2016

Health concerns raised during the federal re-evaluation of Nufarm’s pre-seeding burndown herbicide Amitrol 240 have led the company to stop selling the product for nearly all uses in Canada, starting later this summer. The company said Wednesday it will retire Amitrol — a non-selective Group 11 liquid whose active ingredient, amitrole, has been on the […] Read more

Mosaic’s potash facility at Esterhazy, Sask. (Greg Berg photo)

Crops, Reuters

Mosaic looks for bargain buys as fertilizer sector slumps

By Kanika Sikka, Rod Nickel February 11, 2016

Reuters — U.S. fertilizer company Mosaic Co., grappling with falling prices and profits, is looking for acquisitions that could be bargain-priced in a weak commodity sector. The world’s largest producer of finished phosphate products on Thursday forecast lower selling prices for potash and phosphate in the current quarter. The Plymouth, Minn.-based company also reported fourth-quarter […] 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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