Ordered to hand over more than $7 million in Prairie grain handling revenue and related fines for the 2014-15 crop year, Canadian National Railway now plans to challenge the bill in court. Montreal-based CN on Monday filed in the Federal Court of Appeal, seeking leave to appeal the Canadian Transportation Agency’s (CTA) Dec. 29 finding […] Read more
CN to challenge latest grain revenue penalty
CP cuts raise worry over potential slowdown
CNS Canada –– Canadian Pacific Railway’s decision to cut 1,000 jobs has caught the attention of two Prairie farm leaders. Norm Hall, president of Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, worries the move is short-sighted and may catch up with the railway in months and years to come, when commodity prices catch fire again. “You dump […] Read more
Lower loonie helps farmers, but only so much
CNS Canada — The slumping price of oil continues to weigh on the Canadian dollar, while at the same time providing a boost to Canadian grain prices. Out-of-country buyers tend to more attracted to Canadian grain and wheat when the loonie is low, as they can get more product for their money. However, one market […] Read more
Canada’s organic market to focus on special crops in 2016
CNS Canada — The spotlight is on special crops in Canada’s organic market, as new-crop bids for 2016 start to appear. “It’s a bit of a switch from normal,” said Laura Telford, organic sector development specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development at Portage la Prairie. Normally producers see high demand and prices for […] Read more
Low acres, high prices expected to continue for mustard
CNS Canada –– Canadian mustard production will likely see an upward bump in 2016, according to one buyer, but seeded acres won’t increase exponentially, despite strong prices. “It’s not going to be a big bounce-back year like we’ve had in the past whenever spot prices have increased like they have,” said Walter Dyck of Olds […] Read more
Trends for 2016: Pulses expected to steal acres from cereals
CNS Canada — Canadian farmers are expected to seed more pulse crops at the expense of cereals in 2016, according to early projections from industry experts looking at current market trends. “Definitely we’ll see an increase in pulse crop acreage,” said Bruce Burnett, weather and crop specialist at G3 Canada. Lentils and peas are seeing […] Read more
BHP Billiton to cut 76 Sask. potash jobs
Reuters — Anglo-Australian miner BHP Billiton will cut 76 jobs from its Canadian potash operations due to low commodity prices, a company spokesperson said on Friday. Work continues on sinking and lining shafts at BHP’s potash mine near Jansen, Sask., about 60 km southeast of Humboldt, according to the spokesperson. The mine would be the […] Read more
Low ocean freight rates likely to stick around
CNS Canada –– Ocean freight rates are at some of their lowest levels ever and will likely stay that way for at least the next two years, according to an industry analyst. “We’re near hitting bottom, but just because we hit bottom it doesn’t mean we won’t scrape along it for awhile,” said Jay O’Neil, […] Read more
CP said exploring Norfolk Southern takeover
Reuters — Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) is looking to acquire U.S. peer Norfolk Southern, business news service Bloomberg reported Monday, citing people familiar with the matter. Canada’s second-largest railroad operator has already raised financing and held early-stage merger talks with Norfolk Southern, Bloomberg reported, citing two of the people. Freight carried by major U.S. railroads […] Read more
Kraft Heinz to shut SW Ont. salad dressing plant
Merged food and condiment giant Kraft Heinz will shut down its salad dressing and sauce factory in southwestern Ontario and six other U.S. plants in a bid to cut its “excess capacity.” The company announced Wednesday it will shut its Richardson Foods plant at St. Marys, Ont., which makes and sells salad dressings, sauces and […] Read more
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