Reuters — A merger of U.S. grains merchant Bunge Ltd. with rival Viterra would grow the combined entity’s businesses in the U.S., Brazil and Australia and may raise competition concerns in parts of Canada and Argentina, where key oilseed processing assets overlap, analysts said. Sources last week said Bunge and Viterra were in talks for […] Read more
Bunge, Viterra merger would create global ag trading giant
Companies have some overlap in Canadian crushing
Pulse weekly outlook: Manitoba crops get good start but need rain
Some bean growers seek moisture at lower planting depths
MarketsFarm — Pulse growers in Manitoba are waiting for one thing: rain. So far in May, growing areas of the province have not seen any significant precipitation, according to Dennis Lange, industry development specialist for pulse crops with Manitoba Agriculture. Dry beans, he said, are the last pulse crop farmers have been planting in Manitoba […] Read more
Alberta ag minister, ag critic hang onto seats in election
Governing UCP retains smaller majority
Alberta’s incumbent agriculture minister and official opposition ag critic both appear set to return to the legislature as Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservatives (UCP) are expected to form a majority government. At about 1 a.m. Alberta time on Tuesday, Smith’s UCP was elected or leading in 49 of 87 constituencies; all remaining 38 went to […] Read more
Viterra in talks to merge with Bunge, source says
Merger would vault Viterra into top tier of grain trade
Reuters — Global grain trader Viterra is in talks to merge with U.S. rival Bunge Ltd., according to a person familiar with the matter, in a potential mega-deal that would reshape the top tier of global grains merchants. There is no certainty that Viterra, part-owned by Switzerland-based mining and trading giant Glencore, will be able […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Better growing conditions despite dryness, smoke
Continued smoky skies could slow crop development
MarketsFarm — While dry conditions persist across the Prairies, the current situation for pulses is not as bad as during the two previous springs, according to Pulse Canada’s director of market access and trade policy. Mac Ross said dryness is largely evident across Western Canada and many crops are still below their five-year averages for […] Read more
Firm Canadian chickpea market watching world production
Trade keeps eye on crops in Turkey, Russia, India
MarketsFarm — Canadian farmers are in the early stages of planting the country’s next chickpea crop, with market conditions firm for the time being, ahead of new-crop harvests in other countries. “The market is firm, it’s not going up or down,” said Jake Hansen of Mid-West Grain at Moose Jaw, Sask., noting there was not […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Canadian exports solid
Bangladesh, Pakistan now buying Canadian peas
MarketsFarm — Canadian pulse exports are running well ahead of their year-ago level, with some demand rationing likely over the next few months as supplies tighten ahead of the new-crop harvest. Canada has exported 1.56 million tonnes of lentils during the crop year to date, with Turkey the top destination at 421,000 tonnes followed by […] Read more
Cash advance applications soar along with interest rate
With the interest-free portion being upped to $350,000, producers would save thousands — or even invest it
Reading Time: 5 minutes There’s been a surge in the number of farmers seeking cash advances thanks to soaring interest rates and a big increase in the interest-free portion of the loan. And the deal might even be tempting farmers who don’t need an operating loan. On April 3, the opening day of the 2023 program, the Canadian Canola […] Read more
Go bigger on interswitching pilot, grain groups urge Ottawa
Railways contend the measure creates inefficiencies, but farm groups say the opposite is true
Reading Time: 2 minutes Farm groups from across the country are asking producers to lobby federal ministers and MPs and urge them to super-size a government proposal for what’s called “extended interswitching.” The measure, part of this spring’s federal budget, essentially gives grain shippers a choice in which railway they deal with, as long as the competitor’s line is […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: StatCan report likely won’t affect prices
Canada 'not the market maker' on peas, lentils
MarketsFarm — Statistics Canada (StatCan) on Tuesday released its report on grain stocks at March 31, with MarketsFarm Pro analyst Mike Jubinville suggesting there’s not much to the report. “It’s one of those [reports] where people look at it and move on,” he said. StatCan’s report pegged total farm and commercial stocks of chickpeas at […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
