Hapag-Lloyd containers at a shipping terminal in Hamburg in March 2017. (File photo: Reuters/Fabian Bimmer)

Pulse industry watching container supply closely

One major container firm is shipping them back to Asia empty to meet a surge in demand

Pulse Canada is keeping an eye on container supplies following the recent announcement by a major supplier it would be shipping them back empty to Asia from North America to meet a surge in demand. Why it matters: Canadian pulse crop exporters rely on shipping containers to get their products to international customers. A lack […] Read more

Organic acres level off in Alberta

Organic acres level off in Alberta

Reading Time: < 1 minute After a decade of strong growth, the number of organic acres dipped slightly in Alberta last year, says a new report. But that was good compared to its next door neighbour, said the report by the Canada Organic Trade Association. “Saskatchewan demonstrated the largest acreage decline, with 119,099 fewer acres, followed by Alberta at 6,214 […] Read more


One Canada Square (tower at centre) houses the London head office of the International Grains Council. (Iliffd/iStock/Getty Images)

IGC cuts record-large world grain production outlook slightly

MarketsFarm — World grain production for 2020-21 was revised slightly lower by the International Grains Council in its latest report Thursday, but the group is still anticipating record large supplies overall. Wheat and coarse grains are forecast to total 2.226 million tonnes, which would be down by one million tonnes from the September forecast but […] Read more

Rt. Hon. Don Mazankowski (CNW Group/The Family of Don Mazankowski)

Former federal ag minister Don Mazankowski, 85

Long-time Alberta Tory MP deemed a 'minister of everything'

A private memorial is planned for long-time Alberta MP Don Mazankowski, whose work in the cabinets of prime ministers Brian Mulroney and Joe Clark included a stint as Canada’s minister of agriculture. Mazankowski, the MP for the east-central Alberta riding of Vegreville from 1968 to 1993, died late Tuesday at age 85, his family said […] Read more


At capacity, Roquette’s Portage la Prairie pea plant will be able to process 125,000 tonnes of yellow peas per year. (CNW Group/Roquette)

Pulse weekly outlook: Roquette plant now contracting organic yellow peas

Pricing to be at 'sustainable' level for growers

MarketsFarm — Roquette is now contracting for conventional and organic yellow peas for its new processing plant near Portage la Prairie, Man. After construction is finished at the end of 2020, the 200,000-square foot facility will work its way up to processing 125,000 tonnes of yellow peas per year. “We will be receiving peas in […] Read more

(CPR.ca)

Big Two railways release plans for winter

Snow-clearing equipment among investments at CN, CP

Canada’s major railways have filed their winter contingency plans, as they are now required by law to do. Since updates to the Canada Transportation Act in 2018, Canada’s major rail companies have been required to publish winter plans and can be forced to pay up if they fail to deliver on certain promises of railcars. […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

Canada’s wheat ending stocks projections raised

MarketsFarm — Canadian wheat ending stocks for the current 2020-21 marketing year are forecast to be larger than earlier expectations, according updated supply/demand estimates Thursday from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. All-wheat ending stocks for 2020-21 are now forecast at 6.3 million tonnes, which compares with the September estimate of 5.9 million. The total wheat carryout […] Read more

Pinto beans. (Vergani_Fotografia/iStock/Getty Images)

Pulse weekly outlook: Manitoba’s edible beans come off in good shape

MarketsFarm — Manitoba’s edible bean harvest wrapped up in much easier fashion in 2020 compared to the snow delays of the previous year, with relatively good quality and yields, according to early indications. “When you don’t get a major snowstorm on Thanksgiving weekend, it makes a difference,” said Manitoba Agriculture pulse specialist Dennis Lange, noting […] Read more


File photo outside Viterra’s downtown Regina office building. (Glacier FarmMedia photo by Dave Bedard)

Viterra to replace western Saskatchewan elevator

Grain firm going bigger at Biggar

Grain firm Viterra’s asset investment plan has moved onto Biggar things. Regina-based Viterra announced Monday it’s starting construction “immediately” on a new “state of the art” elevator about two km northeast of its current elevator at Biggar, Sask., about 90 km west of Saskatoon. The new concrete facility will have storage capacity of 34,000 tonnes […] Read more