MarketsFarm — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) prospective plantings report, delivered March 31, provided a mixed bag for pulse growers in that country as far as the numbers are concerned. Some analysts, however, believe the actual acres seeded will top USDA’s projections. Increasing demand from China, India and a recovering domestic market have raised […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Seeding numbers may exceed USDA expectations
Feed weekly outlook: Alternatives in greater demand
MarketsFarm — Price increases for feed barley and wheat in Western Canada have caused more feeders to look elsewhere for sustenance for their livestock. Prices over the last year have shot up 25 to 40 per cent, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire. “Any time you run into a high-priced commodity market, the cost of feeding […] Read more
Saskatchewan to pare school tax mill rate for farmland
EPT mill rates to rise for residential, other properties
Saskatchewan’s latest budget taps down the education property tax (EPT) mill rate it sets on farmland, while raising those mill rates on other property classes. The provincial government, in Tuesday’s budget, set the provincewide EPT mill rate on agricultural land for 2021 at 1.36, down slightly from the previous rate of 1.43. EPT mill rates […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Shipping delays aggravate growers, exporters
Montreal longshoremen's strike again possible
MarketsFarm — On top of disruptions to major supply chains and shipping routes already due to the COVID-19 pandemic, recent events are causing even more headaches for pulse exporters and growers. The six-day blockage of the Suez Canal by the grounded container ship Ever Given caused a major backup of container ships, tankers and other […] Read more
Major flour miller to buy U.S. chickpea processor
Ardent Mills to take up Hinrichs Trading Co.
Major North American flour miller Ardent Mills is expanding its reach into pulse-based ingredients with a deal to buy U.S. chickpea processor Hinrichs Trading Co. The two companies said they “expect the deal will help customers bring innovative products to market to meet growing consumer demand for plant-based and specialty ingredients.” Terms of the deal […] Read more
Alberta pulse pioneer honoured
Reading Time: < 1 minute Craig Shaw is the recipient of the seventh annual Alberta Pulse Industry Innovator Award. The fourth-generation Lacombe-area producer, who retired from farming in 2016, was the inaugural vice-president of Alberta Pulse Growers Commission in 1989, becoming the group’s president a year later. He began growing peas in 1984 (to feed his brother’s hogs) and became […] Read more
Kevin Serfas and Robert Semeniuk new canola and pulse chairs
Three of the big four crop commissions have new leaders following recent annual general meetings
Reading Time: 2 minutes Some familiar faces have departed the leadership ranks of Alberta crop commission but some equally well-known ones — as well as some newcomers — are taking on leadership roles. Turin-area producer Kevin Serfas is the new chair of Alberta Canola. He takes over from John Guelly, who has been a director for Region 5 for […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Adversity bolsters chickpea bids
'Other crops just pencil in better'
MarketsFarm — Canadian chickpea prices have either stayed firm or slightly went up as the pulse runs into more than its fair share of adversity. Limited supply, reduced demand and environmental factors have all affected the long-term prospects of the crop at home and abroad, according to Colin Young of MidWest Grain in Moose Jaw. […] Read more
Visions of the future: Canada’s crop sector looks ahead
Four crop industry leaders share their hopeful vision for their sectors in the coming decade
Reading Time: 7 minutes As we leave 2020 behind us, it isn’t hard to see hope on the horizon. That’s the view of four producers who sit on the boards of the province’s big crop commissions and were asked to share their vision for their sectors in the next 10 years. More pulses, please Shane Strydhorst’s vision of a […] Read more
Four-way Seeds Canada merger approved
Four organizations to amalgamate in February without CSGA on board
A merger of four Canadian seed industry organizations has been cleared to proceed without its fifth partner. Members of the Canadian Plant Technology Agency (CPTA), Commercial Seed Analysts Association of Canada (CSAAC), Canadian Seed Institute (CSI) and Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA) have voted in favour of amalgamation, the groups announced Wednesday. An inaugural board […] Read more
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