CNS Canada –– The Canadian government’s decision to extend its order-in-council requiring a minimum tonnage of grain shipped by the two major railways each week will benefit the ag industry — but it’s not the best solution out there, according to some participants. “Extending the minimum volume requirements through the coming winter and spring season […] Read more
Grain freight minimums beneficial, but not seen as best solution
Mandatory minimum grain handle extended
A new order-in-council will extend the federal government’s mandatory minimum weekly grain handle for Canada’s big two railways through March, just as the previous order expires. Federal Transport Minister Lisa Raitt and Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz on Saturday announced the mandatory minimums, which expired Saturday, are extended until March 28, 2015. The new order, however, adjusts the […] Read more
Drop in oil values a double-edged sword for Canadian ag
CNS Canada — As oil prices plunge across North America, the impact on Canadian farmers is starting to be felt in several conflicting, but noticeable ways, according to Prairie farm leaders and market-watchers. As of Friday afternoon the price of oil had fallen to just above C$66 a barrel, with some analysts predicting it would […] Read more
Deere sees equipment sales falling further as farm incomes drop
Reuters — Deere and Co. said it expected equipment sales to fall further as lower grain prices discourage farmers from buying tractors, harvesters and other machinery. Shares of the world’s largest farm equipment maker fell as much as four per cent in premarket trading Wednesday. Deere’s sales have been hit as bumper corn harvests drive […] Read more
Dreyfus unsure when Sask. canola plant will reopen
CNS Canada –– A month after an explosion crippled the Louis Dreyfus Commodities canola crushing plant at Yorkton, Sask., it’s still unclear when operations will resume. LDC Canada’s vice-president Brian Conn issued a statement Tuesday outlining its “preliminary assessment” of the situation. While the investigation is ongoing, Dreyfus’ assessment so far indicates the Oct. 24 […] Read more
Rail engineers, conductors seek mediation with CP
With just over a month before their contract expires, rail engineers and conductors represented by the Teamsters Union want a mediator to restart “stalled” bargaining with Canadian Pacific Railway (CP). The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) said Friday it has filed a mediation request with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS). “The negotiations have […] Read more
Minogue: Silicon Valley, Saskatchewan style
Jordan Dutchak is bringing Silicon Valley’s working style to Saskatchewan agriculture. This weekend software developers, engineers, students and entrepreneurs will team up with farmers and ag professionals in Saskatoon at Emerging Agriculture, the first Canadian agricultural hackathon, where they hope to develop cutting-edge solutions to agricultural problems. The idea of a “hackathon” originated in the […] Read more
Churchill caps off challenging year
CNS Canada — The harsh winter of 2013-14 appears to have taken a toll on the tonnage of grain and oilseeds shipped through Hudson Bay during its now-concluded shipping season. Just 540,000 tonnes of wheat and other products including durum and canola were shipped through the Port of Churchill in 2014. Last year, that number […] Read more
Farm groups, ag tech companies agree on data privacy standards
Reuters — A consortium of farmer organizations and agriculture data technology providers on Thursday published a set of data privacy and security principles aimed at reassuring farmers that data they share with Big Data services providers will not be misused. The non-binding principles are also meant to provide companies that collect, store and analyze farmer […] Read more
Ag Growth to buy bin maker Westeel for $221.5M
Grain bin manufacturer Westeel is on deck to become part of Prairie grain handling equipment company Ag Growth International’s bin of manufacturers. Winnipeg-based AGI announced Tuesday it’s signed an acquisition deal with Westeel’s owner Vicwest Inc. and Irish building materials manufacturer Kingspan Group. Kingspan said Tuesday it will buy Winnipeg-based Vicwest for $12.70 cash per share, […] Read more
