Crops
Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. agribusiness Archer Daniels Midland on Tuesday reported higher-than-expected quarterly profit on strong oilseed crushing margins and robust global demand for soybean meal. Revenue, however, fell 15 per cent as the strong dollar limited U.S. grain exports, and corn processing profit fell on weak ethanol margins and lower biofuel production volumes. […] Read more
ADM’s Q1 profit jumps on strong oilseed processing results
P.E.I. Liberals in need of ag minister after win
Wade MacLauchlan’s Liberals scored another majority in the Prince Edward Island legislature in Monday’s election, but will need to find a new agriculture minister. George Webster — who’d held the post from 2009 until Monday, stepping down temporarily in 2009 to recover from a mild heart attack — opted not to run again in his riding […] Read more
Ontario won’t widen comment window on neonics: GFO
The public comment period on Ontario’s planned regulations for neonicotinoid seed treatments will close Thursday as scheduled, despite requests from the province’s grain grower group for an extension. The province has “refused” to extend the public comment period on the use of the insecticide group in seed treatments, Grain Farmers of Ontario said in a […] Read more
Earthworm Invasion! Help stop the spread of these alien invaders
Earthworms may be considered beneficial bugs in agricultural operations, but in Alberta’s forests, these invasive insects can spell trouble
Reading Time: 2 minutes A silent horde of alien invaders are worming their way through the Alberta countryside. These creepy-crawlies came from a world away, and there’s no stopping them now. The best we can hope to do is slow the spread of these invasive earthworms, says the head of the Alberta Worm Invasion Project. “In North American forests, […] Read more
Prairie CWRS bids mixed as basis adjustments vary
CNS Canada — Cash bids for Canadian wheat were mixed during the week ended Friday, due to basis adjustments that varied from location, to location. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat prices were C$2.50 per tonne lower to $4 higher, with bids ranging from $185 per tonne in north-central Saskatchewan to $203 per tonne […] Read more
Small canola acreage puts more emphasis on March 31 stocks
CNS Canada –– The canola industry will pay closer attention than usual to the upcoming Statistics Canada report on stocks as of March 31, as a smaller canola acreage figure is causing worries about tight supplies going forward. StatsCan is scheduled to release its report on Wednesday. “Because of that tighter acreage, the stocks number […] Read more
U.S. soy shippers say rail service improved
The U.S. Soy Transportation Coalition (STC) says it’s pleased with recent improvements to rail service, and is giving especially high marks to Canadian Pacific Railway (CP). Last week, the STC and the University of Minnesota concluded the research project “2014 Harvest: Attaching a Garden Hose to a Fire Hydrant,” which was started due to U.S. […] Read more
McDonald’s reset to change structure, cut costs, boost franchises
Reuters — McDonald’s Corp.’s new CEO said on Monday he would reorganize business units, sell restaurants to franchisees and cut costs in a bid to turn the fast-food chain into a “modern, progressive burger company.” The anticipated video announcement by CEO Steve Easterbrook left investors hungry for specific details on how the world’s biggest restaurant […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans rise on soyoil rally; wheat, corn drop
Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. soybean futures rose 1.3 per cent on Monday, following a sharp rally in soyoil that stemmed from talk of rising demand on the export market. “I’ve heard some talk that China has an increased appetite for (soy)oil, said Bill Gentry, broker at Risk Management Associates. “That has given some value […] Read more
Declining canola crush margins start to be felt
CNS Canada –– Declining canola crush margins are finally starting to be felt in the Canadian processing sector. The weekly crush pace took a hit, in the latest report from the Canadian Oilseed Processors Association. Domestic crushers processed only 126,917 tonnes of canola during the week ended Wednesday, according to COPA data. That figure represents […] Read more