Unionized staff at Richardson International’s canola crush plant at Lethbridge have voted for six years’ labour peace rather than proceeding toward a strike vote. The 140-odd workers, represented by United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 401, voted Feb. 1-2 on a new proposal from the company after voting 79 per cent in December to […] Read more
Richardson crush plant staff ward off strike vote
Unionized staff at Lethbridge vote to ratify new contract
ICE weekly outlook: Rangebound canola market consolidating
MarketsFarm — ICE Futures canola contracts moved lower during the week ended Wednesday before uncovering some support, as the commodity remained stuck in a range after trending higher for most of the past year. “Canola is caught in a rangebound, consolidation phase,” said MarketsFarm Pro analyst Mike Jubinville. The relative stability in canola, he said, […] Read more
Chevraux new chair of Alberta Canola
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Canola has a new chair, vice-chair and one director — but still has two spots to fill on its 12-person board. Roger Chevraux of Killam is the new chair and his vice-chair role is now being filled by Ian Chitwood of Airdrie. As well, Charles Simoneau from Guy steps on to the board as […] Read more
A sign of spring: New Blue Book is now on sale
Reading Time: < 1 minute The 2022 edition of the Blue Book is now on sale. Alberta’s wheat, barley, canola and pulse commissions, which took over the popular publication last year from the provincial Ag Ministry, are adding new features. “Along with annual updates to crop protection products and information, enhancements to the 2021 Blue Book included a revised sprayer […] Read more
ICE weekly outlook: No independent strength left in canola
MarketsFarm — At a little more than halfway through the 2021-22 marketing year for canola, a trader asserted the Canadian oilseed now lacks the ability to move independently. Rather, it will follow the ups and downs in oil and meal markets. “[Canola] did its thing months ago,” trader Ken Ball of PI Financial in Winnipeg […] Read more
StatsCan confirms tight grain and oilseed stocks
Canadian corn stocks up on year
MarketsFarm — Canada’s tight supplies of canola, wheat and other crops following the 2021 Prairie drought received more confirmation from Statistics Canada with the release of updated stocks data on Tuesday. Canola stocks, as of Dec. 31, 2021, of 7.6 million tonnes were down 43 per cent from the previous year and the tightest since […] Read more
ICE weekly outlook: Canola moving back in line with soybeans
MarketsFarm — ICE Futures canola contracts moved higher during the week ended Wednesday, but lagged the Chicago Board of Trade soy complex to the upside as the spreads between the two markets saw some readjustment. “If you had bought 100 tonnes of March canola on Dec. 21 you’d be up about $10 per tonne right […] Read more
Richardson crush plant workers to vote on new offer
UFCW team endorses latest offer
Unionized workers at Richardson International’s oilseed crush plant at Lethbridge, Alta. will vote Tuesday and Wednesday on a new offer from the company after rejecting a previous proposal. United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 401 announced Tuesday (Jan. 25) its negotiating committee “fully endorses” the new offer after the company’s Richardson Oilseed division “enhanced […] Read more
ICE weekly outlook: Canola in stratosphere as old-, new-crop gaps narrows
MarketsFarm — With so many influences affecting ICE Futures canola, one trader said it’s hard to figure just where the Canadian oilseed will go. Another trader, however, said the days of canola fetching more than $1,000 per tonne for an extended period of time are pretty much over. “It’s probably the craziest period we ever […] Read more
When it’s this pricey, handle fertilizer with care
Do a soil test, and realize what has happened to your nutrients after the drought, says expert
Reading Time: 3 minutes Between drought and the soaring price of fertilizer, you might want to manage your grain farm a little differently this year. “In a dry year, there will be reduced crop growth and reduced nutrient uptake,” soil scientist Rigas Karamanos said at Agronomy Update earlier this month. “We had plenty of heat, but not moisture. Consequently, […] Read more
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