Groups representing Canadian grain growers touched down in Ottawa Thursday to urge quick passage of legislation to avoid a sequel to the grain handling logjam of 2013-14. Representatives from the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, Grain Growers of Canada, Keystone Agricultural Producers, Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, Alberta Federation of Agriculture and B.C. Agriculture Council went […] Read more

Farmers seek ‘urgent’ action from Senate on rail service

Baltic Dry Index hits three-year highs
CNS Canada — The Baltic Dry Index has seen some strength over the past two months, rising to its highest levels in nearly three years. The BDI settled Monday at 1,355 points, having gained roughly 500 points over the past two months. The index was last this high in November 2014. The BDI is compiled […] Read more
Plunging shipping rates could help Canadian exporters
Reading Time: < 1 minute The recent drop in bulk ocean shipping costs strengthens Canada’s ability to compete with other countries, particularly those closer to Canada’s export markets, says provincial crops analyst Neil Blue. High rates just prior to the 2008 recession, prompted shipping firms to build new vessels and there’s now lots of shipping capacity. That’s set the stage […] Read more

China and vessel glut drive Baltic index to fresh low
Reuters — The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index, which tracks rates for ships carrying industrial commodities, slid to a fifth consecutive record low on Monday on economic worries about China and a surplus of vessels. The overall index, gauging the cost of shipping dry bulk cargoes including grain, iron ore, cement, coal and fertilizers, […] Read more

Baltic Dry Index hits record low
The Baltic Dry Index fell to its lowest levels ever on Friday, which bodes well for the competitiveness of Canadian grain exports. The BDI, a gauge of global ocean freight prices, was quoted Friday at 498 points — the first time the index dipped below 500 since records began in 1985. The index was trading […] Read more