United Nations | Reuters — The United Nations backed Turkey and Ukraine on Thursday by calling for a 120-day rollover of an agreement allowing the safe export of grain from several Ukrainian Black Sea ports after Russia said it would only extend the pact for 60 days. The pact is due to expire on Saturday. […] Read more
UN backs Turkey, Ukraine in call for 120-day grain deal rollover
Text of original deal calls for 120, UN says
Global events pressure already dicey fertilizer market
There are lots of reasons for optimism but the situation could change in a heartbeat, analysts say
Reading Time: 3 minutes Fertilizer prices dropped over winter but remain a powder keg, and even a slight spark could blow the fallout in either direction. “There’s so much geopolitical activity in the world these days, it’s hard to know what’s happening on a given day,” said Neil Blue, crops market analyst with Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation. “Lately there’s […] Read more
Russia suggests renewing Black Sea grain deal for shorter term
Moscow says sanctions have created barriers for its exports
Geneva | Reuters — Moscow is suggesting to renew a deal allowing the safe export of grain from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports — but only for a period of 60 days, half the term of the previous renewal, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin said on Monday. Vershinin’s statement came after talks with U.N. officials […] Read more
FCC says high costs favour more wheat acres in 2023
Reading Time: < 1 minute High prices for fertilizer and chemicals will push up wheat acres and lower canola and corn plantings this year, Farm Credit Canada says in its latest outlook for crop inputs. Overall acreage for wheat will jump 7.3 per cent as farmers turn to “less-input-intensive crops,” the lender forecasts. It predicts both canola and corn acres […] Read more
North Korea’s Kim demands more farmland to boost food production
Seoul | Reuters — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered improvements to infrastructure and expansion of farmland to ramp up food production, state media said on Thursday, amid warnings of an impending food crisis. Kim gave instructions to revamp irrigation systems, build modern farming machines and create more arable land as he wrapped up […] Read more
Russia, U.S. bicker at UN over donating fertilizer to Syria
U.S. calls for Russia to distribute via UN
United Nations | Reuters — Russia and the United States bickered on Tuesday over whether Russian fertilizer could be donated to Syria as Moscow heightens complaints about obstacles to its fertilizer shipments before the renewal of a deal allowing Ukraine Black Sea grain exports. Some 260,000 tonnes of Russian fertilizer has been stuck in several […] Read more
Mosaic misses profit estimate amid lower demand for fertilizers
Reuters — Mosaic Co. on Wednesday became the latest fertilizer maker to miss fourth-quarter profit estimates amid lower demand for potash and other crop fertilizers, pushing shares down 2.2 per cent in extended trading. Although prices of fertilizers such as phosphates and potash decreased toward the end of last year, it did not boost demand […] Read more
Nutrien misses profit estimates amid higher fertilizer prices
CF Industries also books lower sales
Reuters — Canadian fertilizer maker Nutrien on Wednesday forecast lower-than-expected 2023 earnings and posted fourth-quarter profit below Wall Street estimates, sending shares down 2.6 per cent in extended trading. While higher fertilizer prices dented demand in early second-half of last year, a fall in prices later in the year did not boost demand as farmers […] Read more
Russia says sanctions a barrier to Black Sea grain deal renewal
Reuters — Russia said Monday it would be “inappropriate” to extend the Black Sea grain deal unless sanctions affecting its agricultural exports are lifted and other issues are resolved. The Black Sea Grain Initiative, signed by Russia and Ukraine last July, created a safe corridor to allow grain to be exported from Ukrainian ports blockaded […] Read more
The net-zero movement is unstoppable, but farmers will adapt
Reducing emissions is do-able; the key is persuading Ottawa to chart a sensible course, says farm leader
Reading Time: 4 minutes Keep calm, stay flexible and farm on. These were the main messages from a panel on greenhouse gas emissions at the recent CrossRoads conference. Canada, and every member of the G7 and 120 other nations, has committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, the manager of government and policy relations for the Grain Growers […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
