Crops
Reuters — Canada’s PotashCorp does not plan to sweeten its bid for German rival K+S AG, several people familiar with the Canadian mineral miner said, downplaying a media report that it would consider such a move. The proposed bid of 41 euros (C$58) per share already represented an unusually high premium and should not be […] Read more
PotashCorp not planning to increase K+S bid
MF Global officials settle lawsuit for US$64.5M
New York | Reuters — Jon Corzine and other former MF Global Holdings officials have reached a US$64.5 million settlement of litigation brought by investors seeking to hold them liable for the now-defunct futures brokerage’s 2011 bankruptcy. The all-cash settlement with Corzine, who was MF Global’s chief executive and previously New Jersey’s governor, and nine […] Read more
Mystery stocks keeping canary seed from rallying
CNS Canada — When the world needs canary seed, it calls on Saskatchewan, but whether the province will be able to answer this year remains a mystery. Canary seed grown in Saskatchewan accounts for about 70 to 80 per cent of the international trade in the grain used mostly as bird feed, according to Kevin […] Read more
Diesel prices seen softening soon
CNS Canada — Canadian diesel prices should go down between now and the end of the summer, according to a fuel expert. Since early May, the price of diesel across the Prairies has largely been in and around the 94-98 cents per litre range. Tom Kloza of the Oil Price Information Service reported prices on […] Read more
Researchers invent their own version of the great white combine
Farming Smarter has created a hail simulator so it can test ‘hail rescue’ treatments
Reading Time: 3 minutes What can you do when your crops get pounded by hail? How do crops recover from hail damage? There are a lot of questions about this subject, and little information available. That’s why the team at Farming Smarter developed its own hail damage simulation machine, which it unveiled at the organization’s recent field school. “We […] Read more
Sunflowers look good in field, flat in market
CNS Canada — While many Canadian crops are wishing for more rain right now, one expert sees sunflowers, primarily grown in Manitoba, doing relatively fine for moisture. “There’s no weather worries on sunflowers right now. A lot of the acres went in because it was forecasted to be a very dry summer, but it hasn’t […] Read more
Direct-farm marketing, a steep learning curve with big rewards
Reading Time: < 1 minute It’s a phenomenon that has swept across the continent — farmers selling direct to consumers. Some are seeking a bigger share of the food dollar or a way to grow without expanding their land base. Others love dealing with people or are energized by the entrepreneurial challenge. And for every farmer who opts to sell […] Read more
Forging deep bonds — one customer at a time
It’s a whole different world, but these Alberta farm entrepreneurs say direct marketing gets in your blood
Reading Time: 7 minutes Grazed Right Grass Fed Beef / Black Diamond As one of four children of one of seven brothers who jointly own the family ranch, Ben Campbell knew a farming career was simply out of reach. Even if he had the land base, the cost of starting a commercial-size herd is huge. “Cattle are so expensive […] Read more
Prairie wheat bids mostly higher with U.S. futures
CNS Canada — Cash bids for western Canadian wheat were mostly higher during the week ended Friday, with gains in U.S. futures providing some support. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat prices were anywhere from C$2 per tonne lower to as much as $10 per tonne higher, with bids ranging from about $231 per […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn, soy slip on improved U.S. weather, Greece jitters
Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. corn and soybean futures dropped on Monday as lighter-than-expected U.S. rainfall eased fears about soggy Midwest crops while worries over Greece and China led investors to shun many commodity markets. Corn prices pulled back from 2015 highs notched last week after heavy Midwest rains raised crop concerns and following a […] Read more