It was only a few years ago that interest in alternative methods such as biologicals to boost a crop’s nutrient uptake seemed to spike in popularity. But according to Spencer Harris, senior vice-president of global ag retail for Nutrien Ag Solutions, biologicals are not all that new for Nutrien — the global ag retailer has been researching biological crop inputs for nearly two decades.

Interest in biological crop inputs continues to grow
Nutrien exec shares thoughts on uptake and profitability of biological crop inputs

U.S. grains: Corn, soybeans extend losses as Midwest weather looks crop-friendly
Chicago Board of Trade corn futures extended session losses on Tuesday, weighed down by forecasts for crop-friendly rain in U.S. grain belts this week.

U.S. livestock: Feeder cattle hit fresh peaks on shrinking supplies, strong cash prices
Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures continued to rally on Tuesday, with feeder contracts setting new all-time highs, as U.S. cash prices remained firm and domestic supplies of replacement animals continued to shrink, market analysts said.

Pulse Weekly: AAFC revises data for largest pulse crops
Prairie cash prices stand pat
As pulse crops across the country continue to develop, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada updated its estimates for dry peas and lentils. AAFC issued its July supply and demand report on July 21.

AAFC updates canola in July balance sheet
Bases revision on latest StatCan numbers
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada revised its canola estimates in its July supply and demand report released on July 21.

France’s wheat harvest rises 30 per cent but falls short of past average levels, Argus says
This year’s soft wheat crop in France, the European Union’s biggest producer, is expected to rise to 33.40 million metric tons, up 30 per cent from a rain-hit harvest last year, Argus Media said on Tuesday.

In South Korea’s ‘apple county’, farmers beg not to be sacrificed for US trade deal
South Korean apple farmers, who account for about a third of the roughly 14,000 households in the sleepy rural area of Cheongsong county, worry that their way of life could be under threat from an influx of cheap U.S. imports.

Klassen: Lower feed grain prices set to enhance feeder cattle prices
For the week ending July 19, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were unchanged from the previous week, although volumes were limited.

U.S. livestock: Cattle hit fresh highs, hogs inch upward
Chicago cattle futures hit fresh highs on Monday while hogs made small gains.

Agriculture, agri-food groups make bid for spot in Carney’s economic agenda
A coalition of producer and agri-business groups is calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney to make Canadian agriculture part of his economic agenda.