CNS Canada — Recent frost that forced farmers to reseed canola fields across a large portion of Western Canada also reached into canola-growing regions of the northern U.S., with production likely taking a hit south of the border as well. “We’ve had at least 200,000 acres that have been reseeded, and a small number of […] Read more
U.S. canola crop also hurt by frost, likely off early estimates
Bayer postpones plant opening to meet canola seed demand
Frost, wind, moisture and even flea beetles have already devastated Prairie canola crops this season, leading to unprecedented reseeding — and seed companies are struggling to meet the extra demand. Bayer CropScience announced Thursday it will postpone Friday’s scheduled grand opening of its new Lethbridge, Alta. seed processing plant, so staff can focus on meeting […] Read more
Prairie farmers scramble for canola seed after frost
Winnipeg | Reuters –– Western Canadian farmers are scrambling to find scarce canola seed as they reseed crops snuffed out by frost and insects. Farmers in the region have until mid- to late June to plant ahead of insurance deadlines, but the later they sow canola, the higher the risk of damage later from heat […] Read more
ICE weekly outlook: Canola needs more fuel to keep rising
CNS Canada –– ICE Futures Canada canola contracts climbed sharply higher during the week ended Wednesday, but additional gains will need some more bullish news as the market takes a breather and consolidates. A combination of a rally in CBOT soyoil, a weaker Canadian dollar, fund buying and a weekend frost all contributed to the […] Read more
Sources say BASF mulling potential bid for Syngenta
Reuters — German chemicals group BASF is considering a potential offer for Syngenta, its Swiss rival which has received a C$56 billion takeover offer from Monsanto, people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. BASF is speaking to investment bankers about the possibility of an offer for Syngenta, though it has made no decision and […] Read more
Prairie canola basis levels soften as futures rally
CNS Canada — The ICE Futures Canada canola market has moved sharply higher recently, but the cash market hasn’t followed along, as basis levels have generally seen a softening trend. “Generally we’ve been seeing companies widen their basis levels out a bit. Some have held them steady, some have just crept them out a little […] Read more
Tight seed supplies, storms could hamper canola reseeding
CNS Canada — Frosty late-May weather in parts of Western Canada means some farmers will need to reseed canola crops — but due to a seed shortage, some may have to wait. Temperatures dropped below freezing for a number of hours Saturday morning across a large area of Manitoba and into eastern Saskatchewan, according to […] Read more
Some S. Manitoba canola ‘wiped out’ in weekend frost
CNS Canada –– Many canola crops in southern Manitoba were badly damaged by frost early Saturday morning, leading farmers to reseed fields, one local farmer reports. “There’s quite a bit of canola that has been damaged, and some guys are reseeding. Some guys are still assessing, though,” said Anastasia Kubinec, oilseed specialist with Manitoba, Agriculture, […] Read more
Frost in weekend forecast for eastern Prairies
CNS Canada –– Freezing temperatures are in forecasts for parts of Manitoba and Saskatchewan over the next 24 hours, which could create more stress for emerging fields as farmers are still busy reseeding after the last frost. Environment Canada is forecasting lows of -1 to -2 C across much of the agricultural regions of Manitoba […] Read more
Light rain on way for Prairie crops, but ‘soaker’ needed
Winnipeg | Reuters –– Rain looks to splash parched farms on Western Canada’s Prairies over the next week as concerns mount that soil is too dry for canola to grow normally. Offsetting the concern somewhat is the region’s brisk pace of planting, which may wrap up by the weekend. The southern Prairies will be lucky […] Read more