MarketsFarm — Pea and lentil markets in Western Canada are holding relatively steady heading into the holiday season, with little movement expected one way or the other until the New Year. “That’s normal for this time of year,” said Dale McManus of Johnston’s Grain at Welwyn, Sask. on the lack of activity and stagnant prices. […] Read more

Pulse weekly outlook: Markets steady heading into holidays

U.S. grains: Soybeans sink on South American rains, slowing demand
Wheat pressured by bumper crops in Australia, Canada
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures fell for a third straight session on Tuesday on slowing export demand and as forecasts for more rain in South American crop areas tempered concerns about tightening supplies. Corn and wheat followed soybeans lower, pressured by improved South American crop prospects and a firmer U.S. dollar. Grain prices […] Read more

U.S. grains: Wheat posts weekly dip as supply worries ease
Corn, soy futures also lower
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures fell more than one per cent on Friday and recorded a weekly loss as expectations for bumper wheat harvests in Australia and Canada tempered fears of tightening global supplies. Corn and soybean futures declined on forecasts for beneficial rains in northern and central Brazil, although worries about dry […] Read more

U.S. in talks with Huawei exec on resolving criminal charges, source says
'This would be a great way to end this nightmare'
Reuters — U.S. prosecutors are discussing a deal with lawyers for Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou to resolve criminal charges against her, a person familiar with the matter said, signaling a potential end to a case that has strained ties between the U.S., China and Canada. Negotiations between Meng’s attorneys and the U.S. Justice […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soybeans up one per cent as soyoil climbs
Corn up; wheat declines on global supply outlooks
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures rose about one per cent on Thursday, rallying on bargain buying after a two-week low set a day earlier and on uncertainty about South American crop prospects, traders said. Soybeans also drew support from strength in soybean oil futures, which advanced about two per cent on news of […] Read more

U.S. border restrictions to last a long time yet, Trudeau says
COVID would need to be 'significantly more under control'
Ottawa | Reuters — Canada will not agree to lifting a ban on non-essential travel with the United States until the coronavirus outbreak is significantly under control around the world, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Tuesday. Trudeau’s comments were a clear indication that the border restrictions will last well into 2021. The two neighbours […] Read more

Seasonal forecast calls for more snow
MarketsFarm — Most of Canada should see above-normal snowfall over the next three months, according to updated seasonal forecasts released Monday from Environment Canada. Weather maps show a 40 to 60 per cent probability of more precipitation than normal across much of the country from December through February, with the heaviest accumulations expected in Quebec. […] Read more

Canada’s mink farms brace for COVID
Producers have had time to increase biosecurity efforts at the farm level
Canada’s 40 mink farms are operating under heightened biosecurity requirements after reports of COVID-19 jumping from humans to mink in Europe. Alan Herscovici, an industry spokesperson who operates the website Truthaboutfur.com, said early reports out of Denmark and other European countries gave Canadian producers some time to prepare. “These farms have always had a certain […] Read more

Beware of Kazakhs wanting to buy seed, agency says
Seed growers and farmers alike are being warned such sales breach breeders' rights rules
Western Canadian seed growers, seed retailers and commercial farmers are being urged not to sell seed to Kazakhs or their agents because it breaches plant breeders’ rights rules. “The basic fact is no Canadian breeder has given permission for their genetics to go to Kazakhstan,” Lorne Hadley, executive director of the Canadian Plant Technology Agency, […] Read more

Britain, Canada agree on post-Brexit rollover trade deal
Tailor-made comprehensive pact expected to follow
London/Toronto | Reuters — Britain and Canada struck a rollover trade deal on Saturday to protect the flow of almost $35 billion-worth of goods and services between them after Brexit, and vowed to start talks on a bespoke agreement next year. As Britain prepares to end its transition out of the European Union on Dec. […] Read more