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

Making a profit in 2024 could be challenging for farmers
High costs and low commodity prices lead to return of tight margins

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

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

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
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

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

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

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

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
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