(Video screengrab from SQM.com via YouTube)

Chinese firm buys stake in miner SQM from Nutrien

Santiago | Reuters — China’s Tianqi Lithium Corp. has bought a 23.77 per cent share in Chilean miner SQM from Canadian fertilizer giant Nutrien, the Chilean stock exchange said on Monday, for a total sale price of US$4.066 billion. The sale to Tianqi comes as Chinese companies increasingly scour the globe for the raw materials […] Read more

CN locomotives in Winnipeg. (Photo courtesy CN)

CN’s grain handle up in record quarter

Traffic in Canadian National Railway’s grain and fertilizers segment rose eight per cent in its latest quarter, helping the company to record quarterly revenue. Montreal-based CN on Oct. 23 reported net income of $1.134 billion on $3.688 billion in revenues for its quarter ending Sept. 30, up from $958 million on $3.221 billion in its […] Read more


Stony Plain producer Albert Wagner has profited by buying fertilizer well ahead of time — and that looks like a winning strategy again this year as fertilizer prices look set to climb this winter.

Horrible harvest could impact fertilizer prices

Prices are already rising, but the late harvest is limiting the ability to apply or buy fertilizer now

Reading Time: 4 minutes Poor harvest conditions this fall could drive up fertilizer prices next spring. “For many producers right now in Alberta, fertilizer isn’t top of mind. They’re focused on getting the harvest off,” said Craig Klemmer, principal agriculture economist at Farm Credit Canada. “So when we look at the pricing side of things, demand wasn’t as strong […] Read more



(Dave Bedard photo)

PotashCorp Q3 profit disappoints ahead of merger

Reuters — Canada’s PotashCorp, set to merge with rival Agrium to withstand a fertilizer slump, reported a smaller-than-expected quarterly profit Thursday and narrowed its full-year forecast, pressuring its stock. Prices of crop nutrient potash have leveled off this year after hitting eight-year lows late last year due to low crop prices and excessive production capacity. […] Read more

WinField United Canada will operate out of Saskatoon, serving about 60 independent ag input retailers. (LandOLakesInc.com)

Mergers spawn expanded supply network for input dealers

A wholesale buying network set up by and for independent Prairie crop input retailers, against a rising tide of industry consolidation, is now growing through consolidation. The Prairie retailers, who in 2010 set up Grow Community of Independents to collectively build up their retail and agronomic offerings, are now independent members of a new entity, […] Read more


Fertilizer Urea Prills

Don’t apply too much fertilizer

Reading Time: < 1 minute If you’re still seeding be careful not to apply too much fertilizer, says provincial crop specialist Mark Cutts. Seed-placed urea can reduce crop emergence through ammonia toxicity. Factors that impact the amount of urea that can be seed placed include seedbed utilization (calculated as the spread of seed and fertilizer divided by the row spacing), […] Read more

(CPR.ca)

Grain revenue, grain handle higher in CP’s Q1

Increased grain and potash traffic and revenue helped Canadian Pacific Railway book a shift to “positive volumes” in its first-quarter ledger. Calgary-based CP on Wednesday reported net income of $431 million on revenues of $1.603 billion for its quarter ending March 31, down from $540 million on $1.591 billion in the year-earlier period. “We turned […] Read more


Save time and maybe money with fall soil sampling

Save time and maybe money with fall soil sampling

Having a firm fertilizer plan in the fall allows you to take advantage of any dip in fertilizer prices

Reading Time: < 1 minute Soil sampling now will save time in spring and early planning of your fertilizer programs gives you the chance to take advantage of lower fertilizer prices that may occur, says a provincial crop specialist. But soil samples need to be representative of the field, said Mark Cutts. “For example, if there are small areas of […] Read more

(CPR.ca)

CP trims outlook on delayed Prairie harvest

Rain delays in this year’s Prairie grain harvest have bit into third-quarter revenues and earnings expectations for Canadian Pacific Railway (CP). The Calgary company on Wednesday booked overall net income of $347 million on revenues of $1.554 billion for its quarter ending Sept. 30. While net income was up seven per cent, total revenues were […] Read more