(Dave Bedard photo)

Mosaic cuts potash output as demand slumps

Reuters — U.S. fertilizer company Mosaic Co. said Monday it would cut potash production and maintain its reduced phosphate output pace, lowering its outlook for sales. Delayed fertilizer purchases in Brazil and North America have weakened markets, along with volatile currency and equity markets and lower crop prices, Mosaic said in a statement after markets […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canola Council of Canada)

Canola exports seen moving slower than expected

CNS Canada –– Sales of canola out of the world’s top canola-exporting country are moving slower than merchants had anticipated — and market watchers attribute Canada’s sluggish pace to high prices and low global demand. “The export story right now is quiet,” said Peter Schutz, canola merchant at Richardson International, attributing it to a lack […] Read more


(Country Guide file photo)

Prairie wheat bids dip slightly

CNS Canada — Cash wheat bids across Western Canada generally dropped lower during the week ended Friday. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat prices were up by C$1-$3 per tonne across the three Prairie provinces, according to price quotes from a cross-section of delivery points. Bids ranged from about $221 per tonne in southern […] Read more



(Bruce Fritz photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Man. sunflower harvest set to start

CNS Canada — Manitoba farmers will soon be harvesting this year’s sunflower crop, and early expectations look good despite some areas of concern. There are certain areas of the province where the sunflowers are starting to break down due to disease or weather issues, said Anastasia Kubinec, an oilseed specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, Food and […] Read more

(FIle photo by Allan Dawson)

Manitoba corn growers warily eye moisture content

CNS Canada — While harvest is underway for most farmers across Western Canada, many corn growers are busy eyeing the moisture content in their plants. “I know of guys testing at 32 per cent (moisture content of the kernels). That’s abnormal for this time of year,” said Morgan Cott, an agronomist with the Manitoba Corn […] Read more


Lake Mead’s Boulder Basin in July 2008. (Andrew Cattoir photo courtesy NPS via Flickr)

Deal would let southern California buy surplus water from Nevada

Reuters — A US$45 million deal that would let southern California’s biggest water agency access a major supply of water that would normally go to southern Nevada won approval on Thursday from the Southern Nevada Water Authority. The board of the Metropolitan Water District, a wholesaler that supplies public utilities in heavily populated southern California, […] Read more




(Portosdobrasil.gov.br via Flickr)

Exporters fear Brazil agents’ strike could hurt corn exports

Sao Paulo | Reuters — A strike by Brazilian federal agricultural agents responsible for approving certificates required for shipments could affect Brazil’s corn exports, the director of the cereal exporters association Anec Sergio Mendes said Friday. Mendes said the strike that started on Thursday was “the worst thing that could happen” to grain exports, though […] Read more