Winnipeg / Reuters – North American farmers are turning back to a neglected crop, sowing fields with the largest rye crop in years partly as consumers satisfy a growing thirst for whiskey. Rye, planted in autumn and harvested in mid-summer, fell out of favour during the past decade as other crops produced bigger profits. But whiskey […] Read more
North American farmers top up rye plantings as whiskey sales soar
New crop year reminders for western producers and industry
The Canadian Grain Commission is reminding the grain industry and producers about grain grading changes that come into effect on August 1, 2016 in Western Canada. Primary and export grade determinant tables for the new Canada Northern Hard Red and Canada Western Special Purpose wheat classes take effect. Canada Western Feed, Canada Western General Purpose […] Read more
Weak U.S. wheat futures watching European crops
Commodity News Service Canada – U.S. wheat futures are trading just above their weakest levels in 10 years, but the lows may be in for the time being as funds are already holding large short positions and attention turns to problems with the European crop. “We’re really just following the EU,” said wheat-broker Austin Damiani, of […] Read more
SunOpta pressured by shareholders after sluggish sales
Reuters – Canadian organic food company SunOpta Inc, already under pressure from U.S. hedge fund Tourbillon Capital Partners LP, is being prodded by a second activist shareholder to explore the sale of all or part of the company, according to sources familiar with the matter. Canadian hedge fund West Face Capital, which pushed SNC-Lavalin to sell […] Read more
Wheat streak mosaic virus returns to Alberta
Producers are being urged to be on the lookout and take steps to keep the virus from spreading
Reading Time: 3 minutes Wheat streak mosaic virus hasn’t been seen in the province for more than a decade, but it’s making a comeback this year. “Last year we had a dozen or so fields in southern Alberta that tested positive for or were assumed to be wheat streak mosaic, based on the symptoms,” said Mike Harding, research scientist […] Read more
Sylvan Lake farmer joins Cigi board at a critical time
Kevin Bender’s new role will involve sorting out funding and trade issues
Reading Time: 2 minutes UPDATED: Aug. 3, 2016 – Governance, trace residues, and falling gluten strength. Those are among the issues Kevin Bender wants to tackle in his latest off-farm role. The grain grower from the Sylvan Lake/Bentley area — already vice-chair of the Alberta Wheat Commission and its representative on Cereals Canada — joined the board of the […] Read more
Poor-quality world wheat headed for feed
Black Sea export shipments are discounted $25 a tonne to corn
Reuters — From the heart of the U.S. big farm belt to Colombia, Vietnam and Indonesia, livestock producers are snapping up wheat damaged by bad weather or low in protein, providing pigs and poultry with grain more often milled for making bread. The increased global purchases of cheap, poor-quality wheat for animal feed comes as a […] Read more
Manitoba winter wheat in good shape
Group pushes for national wheat research strategy
Commodity News Service Canada — Despite heavy rains throughout July, Manitoba’s winter wheat is in good condition moving into desiccation, the head of an industry group says. The Manitoba winter cereals group is also preparing for an upcoming government program by working alongside other Canadian wheat commissions. “Everybody is still pretty happy. The winter wheat can […] Read more
Be on the lookout for ergot
The Beef Cattle Research Council has posted a blog warning producers to be on the lookout for ergot this year. “Over the past few weeks, Mother Nature has provided us with the rain and cool conditions which have created the environment for ergot infections to occur. These cool, wet conditions have also increased flowering periods in […] Read more
Prairie wheat bids tick lower in choppy week
CWRS basis levels across Western Canada range from C$13 to C$27 below the futures
Commodity News Service Canada — Spring wheat cash bids across Western Canada ended slightly lower for the week ended July 18, tracking choppy action in the U.S. futures. Depending on the location, average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat prices were one to two dollars per tonne lower, according to price quotes from a cross-section of […] Read more
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