Canadian telco and info tech giant Telus has consolidated its recent — and ongoing — acquisitions in farm tech, ag data management and supply chain management into a single new business unit. The Vancouver company, one of Canada’s “big five” telecommunications firms, on Thursday formally launched Telus Agriculture, billed as “a new business unit dedicated […] Read more

Telus’ farm and food sector acquisitions take new shape
Canadian telco giant launches new Telus Agriculture unit

BMO regroups ag banking business
Ag-focused national banking team put in place
With COVID-19 serving to “accelerate” changes in the industry, BMO Bank of Montreal says it has reset its farm banking work under the oversight of an expanded national agriculture and agribusiness banking team. BMO announced the new team approach Oct. 14, describing it as “a national team of agriculture banking specialists — team members with […] Read more

‘Glencore Agriculture’ to adopt Viterra brand
Worldwide ag business to rebrand later this year
A trademark that Swiss commodity firm Glencore picked up when it bought its way into Prairie agriculture is about to become the global brand for its agribusiness offspring. David Mattiske, CEO of Glencore Agriculture, announced in a statement Wednesday the company will rebrand the business to Viterra in “late 2020.” The Viterra brand dates back […] Read more

Ottawa’s Agriculture Day gathering a sector-wide affair
Agriculture Day celebrations across Canada on Tuesday included a conference in Ottawa with roughly 500 attendees from across the ag sector. Hosted by Agriculture More than Ever, the event aimed to bring together people involved in agriculture, food and agribusiness. “We’re having a gathering to celebrate Canadian agriculture and food and the contributions that we […] Read more

Bunge profit tops estimates on South American results
Chicago | Reuters — Agricultural commodities trader Bunge reported a stronger-than-expected quarterly profit on Wednesday as rising crop prices boosted farmer sales in South America and swelled margins in its large agribusiness segment, sending shares up more than three per cent in pre-market trading. But uncertainty about global trade and demand for Bunge’s food and […] Read more

Improving global ag trade may not favour Canada
MarketsFarm — When it comes to improving global trade relations, a rising tide may not lift all boats. In the recently-signed Phase One trade deal between the U.S. and China, Beijing pledged to significantly increase Chinese purchases of U.S. soybeans and other agriculture goods. “Where does that leave room for Canada, given the demand side […] Read more

La Coop federee to rebrand agribusiness arm
Crop and livestock producers dealing with the agribusiness division of Quebec’s La Coop federee can expect to see a new name in the game early next year. La Coop announced Sept. 25 it will change the name of the division — which today operates under the Elite and La Coop brand names — to Sollio […] Read more

Bunge profit dives as grain glut hits margins
Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. agricultural trader Bunge reported on Wednesday a sharply lower first-quarter profit and cut its full-year earnings forecast as slow crop sales by farmers in South America squeezed margins in its core agribusiness unit, sending shares tumbling. White Plains, N.Y.-based Bunge said net income available to shareholders plunged 82 per cent […] Read more

Bunge expects bounce from record U.S. harvest
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. agricultural products trader Bunge said Wednesday it expects the record-large U.S. corn and soybean harvest to help its earnings rebound from a weaker-than-expected third quarter. The company’s shares surged despite reporting disappointing results on Wednesday due to weather-reduced crops in South America, home to many of Bunge’s elevators and processing […] Read more

Workers wanted: Agribusiness sector hiring
CNS Canada — More people have applied for jobs in Canada’s agribusiness sector as of late, according to an industry researcher, but some agricultural sectors still face a critical labour shortage. “People have said that they have received more resumes this year than in previous years,” said Debra Hauer, project manager at the Canadian Agricultural […] Read more