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
Farm groups, ag tech companies agree on data privacy standards
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
Man. cattle producers get AgriRecovery feed assistance
Eligible livestock producers in parts of Manitoba excessively soaked during the growing season will get federal/provincial backing to buy and haul feed and forage. The federal and provincial governments on Wednesday announced AgriRecovery funding for what they call the 2014 Canada-Manitoba Forage Shortfall and Transportation Assistance Initiative. The program will offer support worth up to […] Read more
Minogue: Precision farming seeks new converts at new price point
Silicon Valley venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield + Byers is investing in ag technology with a new stake in Farmers Edge — which in turn now hopes to build its services’ popularity through more attractive pricing. Winnipeg-based Farmers Edge is one of a number of companies hoping to profit from new technology by packaging data solutions […] Read more
First of CWB’s laker vessels en route to Canada
The grain company formerly known as the Canadian Wheat Board expects to have its first of two laker vessels in Canadian waters by the end of the year. CWB announced Monday it took delivery of the first vessel, an Equinox-class boat dubbed the Marquis, effective Oct. 31, and expects it to sail through the Panama […] Read more
Agco posts lower profit on falling crop prices
Reuters — Agco Corp. posted a lower quarterly profit Tuesday as growers around the globe, faced with falling prices for farm commodities, purchased fewer tractors and harvesters. The company, which makes equipment sold under the Challenger, Fendt, Massey Ferguson and Valtra brand names, reported a third-quarter net profit of $65 million, down from $125.2 million […] Read more
Smoother grain flow points to Ottawa lifting rail regulations
Winnipeg | Reuters — Barring a sudden pile-up of grain across Western Canada in the next five weeks, Ottawa will lift requirements that railways move minimum volumes of crops, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said in an interview. While Ritz says he is not ruling out any options before the rules expire Nov. 29, government data […] Read more
PotashCorp fined for mine worker’s death
Reuters — A Saskatchewan court has fined PotashCorp $280,000 following a mine worker’s death in 2012 when a machine used to move ore to conveyor belts backed over him. A Provincial Court judge in Saskatoon fined PotashCorp on Tuesday after the world’s biggest fertilizer company pleaded guilty to one charge of failing to comply with […] Read more
CP CEO says unlikely to pursue hostile bid for CSX
Toronto | Reuters — Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) is still open to a merger with one of the two bigger eastern U.S. carriers even after talks with CSX Corp. failed, though a hostile bid is unlikely, CEO Hunter Harrison said Thursday. CP, Canada’s No. 2 railway with extensive operations in the U.S., said on Monday […] Read more
Larger grain handle helps boost CN’s Q3
A markedly larger grain and fertilizer handle in the three months ending Sept. 30 has helped pump up the third-quarter bottom line for Canadian National Railway (CN). Montreal-based CN on Tuesday reported third-quarter net income of $853 million on $3.118 billion in total revenue, up from $705 million on $2.698 billion in the year-earlier period. […] Read more
