Photo: iStock

New record corn yield — 503 bushels

Randy Dowdy of Valdosta, Georgia has been declared winner of the U.S. National Corn Growers Association 2014 National Corn Yield Contest with an all-time record of 503 bushels per acre. The 18 winners in six production categories had verified yields averaging more than 383.6 bushels per acre, compared to the projected national average of 173.4 […] Read more



Striking port workers in Argentine grains hub halt shipping

Buenos Aires | Reuters — Port workers in part of the Argentine grain hub of Rosario went on strike on Thursday to demand a year-end bonus, paralyzing ship movements, said the head of the powerful CGT union’s local branch. Wage increases are lagging behind Argentina’s soaring inflation rate, which some private economists estimate is around […] Read more

U.S. shippers, West Coast dockworkers resume contract talks

Los Angeles | Reuters — Negotiators for shipping lines and terminal operators at 29 U.S. West Coast ports resumed contract talks with the union for dockworkers on Thursday, as cargo backups continued at the ports, a representative for the labour group said. Officials from the Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union […] Read more


(Photo courtesy CN)

Talks fold on contracts for CN mechanics, clerical staff

About 4,800 unionized mechanics, clerical workers, excavator operators and truck drivers at Canadian National Railway (CN) will go into the new year without new contracts. Unifor, whose locals have five collective agreements with Montreal-based CN, announced Thursday it’s been “unable to reach a new tentative collective agreement” in negotiations with CN since mid-September. The company […] Read more

Saputo’s bakery product lines include Vachon’s butter, pecan, lemon and sugar tarts. (Vachon.com)

Canada Bread to buy Saputo snack cake business

Canada’s biggest dairy processor is set to sell its baked goods business to Canada Bread for $120 million cash. Montreal-based Saputo’s baked goods business is billed as Canada’s top producer of snack cakes, sold mainly in the Canadian retail market and “on a small scale” in the U.S. The company’s cakes are sold under the […] Read more


(Photo courtesy CN)

CN overshoots 2013-14 grain handling revenue cap

The Western Grains Research Foundation will get a $4.98 million gift this season from Canadian National Railway, but not out of holiday spirit per se. The Canadian Transportation Agency on Thursday ruled CN, during the 2013-14 crop year, exceeded its maximum allowable revenue from Prairie grain handling by $4,981,915, above its previously set “entitlement” of […] Read more

(Lisa Guenther photo)

U.S. grains: CBOT wheat extends rally, corn hits highest since July

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures rose on Thursday, extending a winning streak spurred by concerns about Russia cutting back on its overseas shipments, traders said. Corn and soybean futures also firmed, with corn hitting its highest since July 7 during the session. Improving export prospects following China’s approval of some genetically modified strains […] Read more


Russia adds rail loading to informal curbs on grain exports

Moscow | Reuters — Russia has significantly cut railway loading of grain for export, industry sources said, adding to informal curbs to overseas shipments. Russia, one of the world’s main wheat exporters, is restricting grain exports to try to cool domestic prices as the country tackles a currency crisis linked to plunging oil prices and […] Read more