Brussels | Reuters — EU nations refused to back a limited extension of the herbicide glyphosate’s use on Monday, threatening withdrawal of Monsanto’s Roundup and other weed-killers from shelves if no decision is reached by the end of the month. Contradictory findings on carcinogenic risks have thrust the chemical into the centre of a dispute […] Read more
EU countries refuse to back new licence for glyphosate
U.S. grains: Corn, soy, wheat rise on weather threats
Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. corn, soybeans and wheat rallied on Monday, supported by concerns that rains in South America and Europe and dryness in the U.S. could limit crop production, traders said. “Crops are too wet over there while the next soaking rain looks at least 10 days off over here,” Matt Zeller, director […] Read more
Germany to abstain in EU glyphosate vote next week
Berlin | Reuters — Germany will abstain in a European Union vote next week on the continued use of glyphosate in herbicides, because ministries run by different parties remain at odds over the chemical which some experts say could be carcinogenic. Contradictory findings on the carcinogenic risks of glyphosate have thrust the chemical into the […] Read more
Ottawa plans study for new Kingston prison farm
The federal government is set to run a study reconsidering the previous administration’s decision to shut farming operations at federal penitentiaries. Following up on a Liberal campaign pledge, the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) announced plans Thursday for a feasibility study including both in-person and online consultations with stakeholders and the public. Specifically, CSC said […] Read more
HC2 broadens offer for U.S. grain handler Andersons
Chicago | Reuters — HC2 Holdings Inc. broadened its offer to buy pieces of The Andersons Inc. on Thursday, days after the loss-making U.S. grain handler said an earlier proposal to break up its business units was dead on arrival. HC2, a holding company run by former hedge fund manager Philip Falcone, said it would […] Read more
U.S. EPA draft report calls out atrazine for risk to animals
Chicago | Reuters — One of the most popular herbicides in U.S. agriculture can be dangerous to animals and fish and leaves behind worrisome residue levels, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Thursday in a draft report that sparked outrage among farmers. The agency’s assessment of atrazine could lead to tighter regulatory limits on […] Read more
U.S. grains: Profit-taking pulls soy from two-year highs
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures backed off two-year highs on Friday, with investment funds locking in profits from the oilseed’s sharp rally this week. Wheat firmed as heavy rains dented crop prospects in western Europe and caused some investors to cover bearish bets they had made on the market. “Wheat caught another wave […] Read more
Scoular buys grain elevator in Manitoba’s Interlake
U.S. grain company The Scoular Co. is expanding its stake in the Prairie grain handling market by buying a small former Agricore elevator in Manitoba’s Interlake region. The company on Thursday announced its “recent purchase” of the Tri-Field Farms elevator at Netley, about 25 km north of Selkirk at the south end of Lake Winnipeg. […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soy rallies on export hopes
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures soared to their highest in nearly two years on Thursday on hopes that export demand will rise amid concerns about the quality of the crop being harvested in Argentina. Corn firmed to its highest since July 2015, supported by forecasts for a reduced harvest in Brazil, but closed […] Read more
Bayer secures loan facility to fund Monsanto bid
Reuters — German drugs and crop chemicals group Bayer, which has made a US$62 billion bid for U.S. seeds company Monsanto, has secured a 60 billion-euro (C$87.75 billion, or US$66.9 billion) loan facility, business journal Handelsblatt reported Thursday. The loan facility can be expanded up to 75 billion euros (C$109.68 billion, or US$83.62 billion), the German […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
