Political commentator David Frum says there’s good, bad and potentially ugly for Canadian farmers in the United States’ new and unpredictable Trump administration. Frum, a senior editor at The Atlantic magazine and, more recently, an owner of Ontario farmland, told the Grain Farmers of Ontario March Classic in London recently that global markets have been […] Read more
Take advantage of growth, guard against risk with new U.S. regime: Frum
Diesel prices soften, but watching U.S. infrastructure plan
CNS Canada — Sinking prices for crude oil and a softer Canadian dollar have kept diesel prices relatively low for Canadian farmers in 2017, and they could be heading lower, as long as U.S. President Donald Trump’s infrastructure plan doesn’t get in the way. “I would probably say in Canada you’re going to see numbers […] Read more
Trump budget plan cuts USDA food, rural water funding
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed halting funding for rural clean water initiatives and reducing county-level staff, for a 21 per cent drop in discretionary spending at the Department of Agriculture (USDA), according to a White House budget document. The $4.7 billion in cuts would leave USDA with a budget of […] Read more
Pacific trade pact countries seek ‘progressive’ way forward
Vina Del Mar, Chile | Reuters — The remaining members of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) are seeking a way forward on the trade pact, they said on Wednesday, as some emphasized the need for deals to address concerns about workers’ rights and other issues. The TPP, which originally covered some 40 per cent of global […] Read more
Trump’s trade nominee pledges tough enforcement
Washington | Reuters — U.S. President Donald Trump’s choice for the top trade negotiator on Tuesday pledged an “America First” strategy to aggressively enforce U.S. laws and trade deals to stop unfair imports and push China to scrap excess factory capacity. Robert Lighthizer, the U.S. Trade Representative nominee, told senators at his confirmation hearing that […] Read more
U.S. ag secretary nominee submits ethics disclosures
Reuters — U.S. President Donald Trump’s nominee to head the U.S. Agriculture Department said in Senate ethics disclosure forms that he would place his assets, which include part ownership of a grain merchandising company, into a blind trust. Republican Sonny Perdue was tapped to head the department the day before Trump’s inauguration. Progress on his […] Read more
U.S. Commerce chief sees no major NAFTA talks until later this year
Washington | Reuters — U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said Wednesday that substantial negotiations to revamp the North American Free Trade Agreement likely will not get started until the latter part of this year and could take a year to complete. Ross, speaking to Bloomberg Television, said U.S. legal notification requirements with partners Mexico and […] Read more
White House still weighing U.S. biofuels program change
Washington | Reuters — The Trump administration is reviewing the possibility of a key change to U.S. biofuels policy requested by oil refiners and Carl Icahn, the billionaire investor and special advisor on regulations to President Donald Trump, a White House official said Monday. The administration has no position “either way on this issue at […] Read more
Ethanol group, Icahn clash over details of U.S. biofuel negotiation
New York | Reuters — The head of the Renewable Fuels Association says billionaire investor Carl Icahn told him last week U.S. President Donald Trump was about to issue an order overhauling the U.S. biofuels program — something both Icahn and the White House have denied. Confusion over Trump’s plans for the Renewable Fuel Standard […] Read more
Canola’s rally pushes cash prices higher
CNS Canada — Canola cash prices notched gains with recent news out of the U.S., but the market remains rangebound, and near-term support is likely to run dry. Canola cash prices were supported by a two-day rally in the futures, said Mike Jubinville of ProFarmer Canada, but crushers have widened out the basis for nearby […] Read more
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