Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow’s Red Square on June 24, 2020. (File photo: Reuters/Maxim Shemetov)

Putin ally warns agriculture supplies could be limited to ‘friends’

Reuters — One of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s allies warned on Friday that Russia, a major global wheat exporter, could limit supplies of agriculture products to “friendly” countries only, amid Western sanctions imposed on Moscow over the Ukraine crisis. Dmitry Medvedev, who served as president from 2008 to 2012 and is now deputy secretary of […] Read more

Refugees from Ukraine wait the Ukrainian-Slovakian border following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Vysne Nemecke, Slovakia, Mar. 4, 2022.

Russia’s war could affect agriculture around the globe

Fallout from the invasion could prompt a rethink and reordering of current systems, say economic experts

Reading Time: 4 minutes Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will not only roil commodity markets in the short term, but could lead to some structural changes to agriculture both here and abroad. [READ MORE] Farming behind the lines in Ukraine Livestock production, the rise of faux meats, phosphorus recycling and biofuels were some of the issues raised by ag economic […] Read more


EU flags in front of the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels. (Jorisvo/iStock/Getty Images)

EU offers farmers aid, more land to grow due to Ukraine war

Brussels | Reuters — The European Union will distribute 500 million euros (C$692 million) to help farmers and allow them to grow crops on fallow land to mitigate food price spikes and potential shortages resulting from Russia’s war in Ukraine. Published on Wednesday, the proposals by the EU’s executive European Commission also include assistance to […] Read more



(Nutrien video screengrab via YouTube)

Nutrien to produce ‘most potash ever’ in 2022

Company to ramp up production in response to Ukraine conflict

The world’s biggest potash-producing company is set to produce more potash in 2022 due to “uncertainty of potash supply” coming out of Eastern Europe. Saskatoon-based Nutrien, which has an estimated 20 million tonnes of potash-mining capacity across six mines in Saskatchewan, said Wednesday it plans to boost its output for 2022 to 15 million tonnes, […] Read more



Parts are already in short supply in Ukraine, and farmers are stockpiling and lending and borrowing amongst themselves. (Ihor Pavliuk photo)

Farming behind the lines in Ukraine

A Ukrainian agriculture journalist chronicles the challenges of sowing a crop during wartime

Ukrainians will farm their land, even in the face of war. In the Kherson area of southern Ukraine, where war rages and the city of Kherson is seen by the Russian invaders as strategic, a column set out on Monday. This was a column of tractors, under the flag of Ukraine. In it were farmers […] Read more



CF’s facility at Medicine Hat, Alta. is billed as the largest nitrogen manufacturing complex in Canada. (CFIndustries.com)

CF Industries boosts U.S. fertilizer shipments as Russian exports cut

Chicago | Reuters — CF Industries is increasing fertilizer shipments to both U.S. coasts from the world’s largest nitrogen complex in Louisiana to help offset a decline in exports from Russia after it invaded Ukraine, CEO Tony Will said. Global fertilizer supplies have tightened and prices have increased from already high levels as sanctions bite […] Read more

CBOT May 2022 corn (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, orange and green lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn eases on Ukraine ceasefire talks

Argentina restricts soymeal, soyoil exports

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago corn fell on Monday, pressured by uncertainty in the Black Sea region as talks of a ceasefire in Ukraine could open up the region to exports, though progress remains uncertain. Wheat eased early in the session, but returned to near even on news that Russia is suspending exports to protect […] Read more