“Any investments that we make in equipment, land, what we put on our crops, what we put in our soil, whatever the case may be, need to provide a positive return. If they don’t, you need to question why you are doing it.” – Darren Bond.

Making a profit in 2024 could be challenging for farmers

High costs and low commodity prices lead to return of tight margins

Reading Time: 4 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – Farmers can expect tighter margins for the foreseeable future, according to one farm management specialist. “This is not 2022 or even the early parts of 2023; this is a return to historic-type margins,” says Darren Bond, a farm management specialist with the Manitoba government. “I think that profit is still attainable for […] Read more

(Combyne Ag video screengrab via YouTube)

Bayer’s crop marketing, crop production platforms in sync

FieldView, Combyne platforms now integrated

Combyne, the made-in-Canada grain marketing platform Bayer bought earlier this year, is now fully on speaking terms with the company’s Climate FieldView precision ag platform. Bayer on Oct. 30 announced integration of the two platforms, which it said will allow grain farmers in Canada and the U.S. to connect their marketing data in Combyne and […] Read more


Signage on Viterra’s office building in Regina. (Dave Bedard photo)

Viterra to exit Russian grain trade

The company's team in Russia to create new grain exporter

London | Reuters — Global grain trader Viterra’s management team in Russia plans to create an independent Russian grain exporter once the company ceases export activities in the country, the head of its Russian office, Nikolai Demyanov, told Reuters on Thursday. Viterra — whose owners include mining and trading giant Glencore and the investment management […] Read more

Louis Dreyfus’ oilseed processing plant at Yorkton, Sask. (LDC.com)

Dreyfus to step up spending after earnings boost

'Complementary' acquisitions envisioned

Paris | Reuters — Louis Dreyfus Co. (LDC) could nearly double annual investments in the coming years as rising profits help it pursue expansion in its traditional crop trading and newer food-ingredient activities, its CEO told Reuters. The group on Wednesday reported a jump in annual net profit to $1 billion, joining other global crop […] Read more


Harvest Sample program extended

Harvest Sample program extended

Reading Time: < 1 minute The Canadian Grain Commission has extended the deadline for its Harvest Sample Program to Dec. 30. The program provides an unofficial grade along with quality information for crops to help farmers with marketing. Producers who are not currently registered for the Harvest Sample Program, but who would like to take part this year, have until […] Read more

(BungeMOE.com)

Bunge to sell oilseed processing business in Russia

Grain firms scaling back Russian business

Reuters — Agricultural commodities trader Bunge said Monday it has agreed to sell its oilseed processing business in Russia to Karen Vanetsyan, the controlling shareholder of Exoil Group. The sale includes the sunflower processing plant in Voronezh. Bunge and its rivals ADM, Cargill and Louis Dreyfus — part of the so-called ABCD quartet of global […] Read more


Inspection fees levied by the Canadian Grain Commission are front and centre as Ottawa conducts a review of the system that regulates grain standards.

Cut grain inspection costs to stay competitive, say Alberta farm groups

Alberta Wheat and Alberta Barley split with Prairie counterparts on Canada Grain Act review

Reading Time: 3 minutes The system that regulates grain standards needs to be modernized — and costly duplication of inspection services eliminated, say Alberta’s cereal commissions. “The Canada Grain Act hasn’t been reviewed since 1971, and from 1971 to 2021, we’ve seen significant changes on the farm,” said Alberta Wheat chair Todd Hames. “It’s an old act, so it’s […] Read more

The cost of grain bins has risen $1 a bushel — a 25 per cent jump — in the last five years, says a provincial market analyst.

Do the math before adding more grain storage

Lots of bin space can help you wait out low prices at harvest, but the cost of storage is rising

Reading Time: 2 minutes Having more grain storage can be a big plus, but it’s not a slam dunk, says a market analyst with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. “Farmers in Alberta along with growers in other Prairie provinces have more grain storage than most of their worldwide competitors,” said Ryan Furtas. “However, having storage capacity can be a marketing […] Read more


Charles Baron and partners brought FBN to Canada in 2017, buying Saskatchewan-based Yorkton Distributors. (FBN video screengrab via YouTube)

FBN cuts yearly membership fee to zero

Ag e-commerce firm offers free accounts to farmers

E-marketplace Farmers Business Network (FBN) has disposed of the annual membership fee that allowed members access to its various buying groups and services. California-based FBN, which has operated in the U.S. since 2014 and expanded to Canada in 2017, announced Tuesday (Sept. 15) its farmer members may now have “access to a select range of […] Read more

It doesn’t hurt to check, says grain commission

It doesn’t hurt to check, says grain commission

Only licensed grain companies are required to post security that ensures farmers are paid for deliveries

Reading Time: 2 minutes The Canadian Grain Commission is reminding producers that only licensed grain companies provide security that ensures farmers are paid when they deliver grain. “Do you know if the company you’re delivering to is licensed?” the commission asked in a recent tweet. A complete list can be found under ‘Licensed grain companies’ at the Canadian Grain […] Read more