Moscow | Reuters — Russia’s agriculture ministry has paused its daily publication of grain harvesting data while it refines the reporting format used by the country’s growing regions, the ministry said Wednesday. Russia is the world’s largest wheat exporter, supplying it mainly to Africa and the Middle East. It competes with the European Union and […] Read more
Russia’s agriculture ministry pauses grain harvesting data
The Andersons to pay debt, invest in core units after rail business sale
Renewable fuels, specialty foods investments considered
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. grain handler The Andersons plans to use US$550 million from the sale of its rail leasing business to pay down debt and invest in sustainable farming and low carbon initiatives in its core grain and fertilizer units, CEO Pat Bowe told Reuters on Tuesday. Maumee, Ohio-based Andersons sold its rail […] Read more
P+H to replace eastern Saskatchewan elevator
New facility, loop track to be on line in mid-2022
Agrifood company Parrish and Heimbecker (P+H) plans to build a new and leaner grain elevator at Yorkton, Sask. to replace its 41-year-old facility there. The privately-held Winnipeg grain firm said Wednesday it has already started work on the new build, which it expects to have ready to receive grain in June next year. The existing […] Read more
Producers aren’t toasting tax change for small distillers
Province changes rule so small-scale distillers no longer have to source grain from Alberta
Reading Time: 3 minutes A provincial government decision to allow small distillers to source grain from outside Alberta is having “unintended consequences” on the province’s cereal growers. “In any value-added strategy, you need to have a focus on acquiring your product from the local producers,” said Tom Steve, general manager of Alberta Wheat and Barley. “So if we’re going […] Read more
IGC expects larger world grain crop but tighter stocks
MarketsFarm — World grain production is forecast to hit a new record in 2021-22, but increasing demand should still cause ending stocks to tighten to their lowest level in seven years, according to updated projections from the International Grains Council. Total grain production — which includes wheat, corn and other coarse grains — is forecast […] Read more
Barge backlog starts moving as Mississippi River reopens
Over 1,000 barges waiting to pass
Chicago | Reuters — The Mississippi River reopened to vessel traffic near Memphis on Friday, the U.S. Coast Guard said, ending a shutdown of part of the waterway that caused a backlog of more than 1,000 barges carrying oil, corn and other goods. The Coast Guard said the river is open to all vessel traffic […] Read more
U.S. barge backup worsens as Mississippi River shut near Memphis
Chicago | Reuters — A traffic jam on the lower Mississippi River swelled to 771 barges on Thursday as a fractured bridge near Memphis closed the waterway that is crucial for U.S. crop exports. The shutdown fueled concerns about shipping U.S. grain and soy to export markets at a time when global inventories are slim […] Read more
Ocean freight rates at decade highs
MarketsFarm — Ocean freight rates have climbed steadily higher over the past year, recovering from the lows hit at the start of the pandemic in early 2020 to see their highest levels in over a decade. The Baltic Dry Index (BDI), a major indicator of shipping rates, hit a high of 3,266 points on Wednesday. […] Read more
Cost index up for CN, down for CP in grain revenue formula
CP expects lower labour costs, CN higher
Expected labour costs were the major difference in a new ruling on the index that determines how much revenue each of Canada’s big two railways get to keep in the coming crop year from hauling Prairie grain. The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) on Thursday announced its decisions on the volume-related composite price index (VRCPI) for […] Read more
Port of Thunder Bay opens for season
MarketsFarm — The 2021 navigation season is officially underway at the Port of Thunder Bay, as the tugboat Sharon M1 and barge Huron Spirit arrived late Friday. The tug-barge combo discharged a calcium chloride brine solution, used as a stabilizer and dust suppressant. The same combo also opened the season 2020, one year ago to […] Read more
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