Reading Time: < 1 minute The Farmers’ Advocate Office has received numerous inquiries on option-to-purchase agreements between landowners and the energy and utility sectors. “It’s important that landowners are aware of the risks of option-to-purchase agreements,” said Jeana Les, research and communications specialist for the advocate office. “An option-to-purchase agreement locks a landowner into selling to a certain company at […] Read more
The downside of an option-to-purchase land agreement
This type of agreement doesn’t oblige an energy or utility company to buy the land
U.S. livestock: Lower beef quote undermines CME live cattle
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle closed lower on Thursday after profit-taking and a drop in the day’s wholesale beef price ended a two-day rally, traders said. Spot December and February finished 1.075 cents/lb. lower at 129.9 and 132.05 cents, respectively (all figures US$). Thursday morning’s wholesale choice beef price had fallen […] Read more
Australia blocks foreign firm’s deal for largest farm owner
Sydney | Reuters –– Australia on Thursday blocked the sale of the country’s largest landowner, private farming group S. Kidman and Co., to foreign investors, saying an agricultural area the size of South Korea should remain in Australian hands. Ownership of farmland is a sensitive political issue in Australia amid concerns that foreign buyers are […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle extend gains
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed higher for a second day in a row Wednesday, helped by more short-covering as expectations improved regarding cash prices later this week, traders said. Spot December finished at 130.975 cents/lb., up 2.95 cents, and February 2.55 cents higher at 133.125 cents (all figures US$). […] Read more
New ‘superbug’ gene found in animals, people in China
London | Reuters — A new gene that makes bacteria highly resistant to a last-resort class of antibiotics has been found in people and pigs in China — including in samples of bacteria with epidemic potential, researchers said Wednesday. The discovery was described as “alarming” by scientists, who called for urgent restrictions on the use […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle finish strong after wild ride
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle contracts closed higher on Tuesday amid massive short-covering spurred by higher wholesale beef values that overcame selling led by lower cash price expectations for later this week, traders said. Spot December finished at 128.025 cents/lb., up 0.35 cent, and February 0.925 cent higher at 130.575 cents […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle tumble limit down
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures finished Monday’s session down by their three cents/lb. daily price limit after late Friday’s cash prices fell short of expectations, traders and analysts said. Spot December finished at 127.675 cents/lb., and February at 129.65 cents (all figures US$). Live cattle’s trading limit will be expanded […] Read more
Klassen: Feedlots curb buying interest
Despair is the price one pays for setting an impossible aim. Given the phone calls over the past week, producers have been expecting something the market cannot offer. Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were under severe pressure, with 700-plus-pound cattle down $8-$12 from seven days earlier; calves under 700 lbs. traded $4-$8 below week-ago levels. […] Read more
Making it better when it is wetter — and when it’s dry, too
Ducks Unlimited has two wetlands restoration programs drawing on $31 million in provincial funding
Reading Time: 3 minutes Whether floods in 2013 or drought this year, extreme weather has taken its toll on producers throughout Alberta in recent years. The good news is Mother Nature can help with that. And the provincial government is also chipping in, with $31 million in funding over three years to encourage farmers and other rural landowners to […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME cattle, hogs surge on bargain-buying after selloff
Chicago | Reuters — The Chicago Mercantile Exchange saw live cattle and feeder cattle futures bounce back strongly from contract lows on Wednesday, with prices hitting their daily limits as traders snapped up bargains and investors covering their short positions. Meanwhile, CME lean hog futures also saw a turnaround as traders bet that contract lows, […] Read more