Grain growers in Alberta’s Peace, northeastern and northwestern farming regions whose waterlogged crops are deemed “non-viable” can now file for full refunds on AFSC hail insurance premiums. AFSC, the province’s Agriculture Financial Services Corporation, announced Wednesday it will accept such applications from eligible growers from now until Sept. 11. Applications will be available online through […] Read more
Alberta’s AFSC to refund hail premiums on drowned crops
Agency taking applications until Sept. 11
Pulse weekly: Harvest pressure now hitting lentils
MarketsFarm — As the harvest begins to ramp up across Canada, lentil prices have begun to feel some of the downward pressure. However, to Marcos Mosnaim of Globeways Canada Inc. at Mississauga, Ont. there’s more to the recent declines. “We are feeling pressure from other origins. As United States green lentils are selling much cheaper […] Read more
Churchill’s shipping season to start next month
Tracks 'in good shape' leading to northern Manitoba port
MarketsFarm — There won’t be any vessels laden with grains and pulses departing from the Port of Churchill until next month, according to Murad Al-Katib, CEO of AGT Foods in Regina. “We’re in the early days of harvest, so it would be very normal to expect the first vessels to arrive in the first half […] Read more
Mexico to phase out use of glyphosate
Farmers to have until 2024 to phase out herbicide
Mexico City | Reuters — Mexico will gradually phase out use of the herbicide glyphosate by the time the current administration ends in late 2024, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Wednesday, following a ministerial spat over the product. Acknowledging differences between his agriculture and environment ministries over the herbicide, which is used in […] Read more
Locust swarming pheromone identified in step toward curbing plagues
Washington | Reuters — Scientists have identified a chemical compound released by locusts that causes them to swarm, opening the door to possible new ways to prevent these insects from devouring crops vital to human sustenance as they have for millennia. Researchers said on Wednesday they identified the pheromone — that is, a chemical produced […] Read more
Pea crops strong, but prices falter
MarketsFarm — Pea crops across the Prairies are expected to be in good condition ahead of the harvest. “As we go along with the sunshine and heat, the pulses are coming in fairly quickly,” said Darwin Hamilton of Kalshea Commodities in Winnipeg. “Without any excess moisture, the quality should be good this year.” Pea prices […] Read more
Assessing hail damage assessments
Reading Time: < 1 minute Agriculture Financial Services Corporation wants to see how its assessments of hail claims compares to the evaluation of farmers who assessed damage in their fields. The comparison will help “determine the future of adjustments at AFSC and may assist with adjusting speed in the future,” the crop insurer said. A link to the very brief […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Chickpea prices steady into harvest
MarketsFarm — The chickpea harvest is underway in some areas of the Prairies, including southern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan, where pulse crops were planted earlier due to drier spring weather. So far, the chickpea crop has seen co-operative weather conditions. “As we go along with this sunshine and heat, the pulses are coming in very […] Read more
Containerized crops may get stuck in Montreal port’s strike
Longshoremen on 'indefinite' strike as of Monday morning
Bulk grain traffic through the Port of Montreal isn’t expected to be affected by a longshoremen’s strike that began Monday morning, but eastbound containerized crops may be among the traffic put on hold. CUPE’s Syndicat des debardeurs Local 375, which represents about 1,150 longshoremen and longshorewomen at the port, served notice Friday that it would […] Read more
Nutrien cuts profit forecast on weak ammonia prices
Reuters — Canadian fertilizer maker Nutrien on Monday cut its annual adjusted profit forecast as weaker-than-normal industrial demand held back prices for ammonia and urea ammonium nitrate. The company cut the top end of its 2020 adjusted earnings per share forecast to $1.90 from $2.10 earlier, while retaining the lower end at $1.50. Even as […] Read more
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