The organizers of one of the last big Prairie farm events held before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic have recovered funds temporarily lost to an alleged phishing scam. The CropConnect Conference — an annual crop production and farm management conference co-organized by Manitoba grain, oilseed and pulse grower groups — has received back almost […] Read more
Manitoba crop conference recovers allegedly phished funds
Court order frees event organizers' money from frozen account
Kraft Heinz reported in talks to sell Planters snack business
Pandemic-based surge in snack demand wanes
Reuters — Kraft Heinz is in talks to sell its Planters snack business to Skippy peanut butter maker Hormel Foods for about US$3 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The deal could be announced as soon as next week if talks do not fall apart, the Journal […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Canada’s lentils face competition
MarketsFarm — Acreage and production of lentils in Canada are expected to mostly remain the same for the 2021-22 crop year. While strong demand during the COVID-19 pandemic has bolstered prices over the past year, increased production from competing exporters may cut into that buying interest going forward. Elyce Simpson Fraser, senior vice-president of Simpson […] Read more
Alberta crop insurer taps reserve to cut premiums
AFSC to pare premiums by 20 per cent
The reserve at Alberta’s Crown crop insurance agency will be tapped to offset the premiums charged to farmers for the 2021 crop year, and possibly for longer. The province’s Agriculture Financial Services Corp. (AFSC) said Monday its farmer customers will get a 20 per cent discount on crop insurance premiums this year — which on […] Read more
Indian farm protesters reinforce after standoff with police
New Delhi | Reuters — Thousands of Indian farmers marched overnight to reinforce protesting colleagues camping out on the outskirts of the capital, New Delhi, to press the government to withdraw three new farm laws that they say will hurt their livelihoods. In a standoff between riot police and the farmers, authorities tried to clear […] Read more
Online series covers Hot Topics in Commodities
Prices and production information are the focus of the Hot Topics in Commodities series hosted by The Western Producer, Manitoba Co-operator, Grainews and Farmtario this winter. The free sessions each feature a look at market demand and fundamentals provided by MarketsFarm analysts as well as a presentation on a current production issue. Opportunities to earn […] Read more
Grain prices reach near-record highs with no end in sight
They could go higher yet, but take advantage now to lock in some of next year’s crop, say experts
Reading Time: 4 minutes The best cure for high prices is prices — as the old saying goes — but Canadian grain producers may be able to ride the current highs for a little longer yet. “We’re approaching all-time highs in a number of commodities right now, and historically, the faster things go up, the faster they inevitably go […] Read more
Proposed grain code suddenly getting noticed
Some farmers are wondering why they’ve just heard of it, but it’s been in the works for a while
Reading Time: 4 minutes A new proposed grain code of practice has left some Alberta growers scratching their heads about where it came from, who’s behind it, and why they haven’t heard about it until now. But that’s not for lack of trying on the part of the group who developed the draft Responsible Grain code of practice. “Those […] 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
Feds predict three per cent increase in canola acres
Stocks nevertheless expected to tighten
MarketsFarm — Canadian farmers will seed more canola in the upcoming 2021-22 crop year, but solid demand will still cause ending stocks to tighten, according to the first new-crop supply/demand projections from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), released Monday. The department forecast seeded canola area in the spring of 2021 at 21.37 million acres, up […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
