Reuters — U.S. corn futures inched higher on bargain buying Friday but posted a fifth consecutive weekly loss as expectations of record yields in this autumn’s harvest continued to hang over the market, traders said. Wheat rose on short-covering buying as the market consolidated above contract lows set this week, while soybeans ended mixed. At […]
Category Archives Crops
Neonic insecticides widespread in Iowa waters — July 25, 2014
Reuters — A class of insecticides popular with corn and soybean farmers in the U.S. Midwest but feared as a factor in the decline of U.S. honey bee colonies and other crop pollinators, has been found to be widespread through rivers and streams in Iowa, according to a government study released on Thursday. The study, […]
Producer cars still backed up in Western Canada — July 25, 2014
CNS — Canadian railway traffic has improved in recent months, but there is still a large backlog of producer car orders to move through. “The rail issues are behind the big guys; those who can move 100-car unit trains are getting them and moving the grain to the ports,” said analyst Wayne Palmer, of Agri-Trend […]
Do biotech traits still pay?
Input costs are up, soybean prices are down, but the biotech sector aims to convince growers that the economics of biotech are still in their favour
With lower commodity prices looming over the grain and oilseed sector, more farmers this winter are asking whether that expensive bag of seed is really the smartest buy. At the very least, they say, it’s time for a fresh look at trait economics. The companies that produce this seed charge top dollar for it, and […]
Heavy rains in some areas — July 25, 2014
Rain fell in much of Saskatchewan yesterday (Thurs. July 24) and rain continues farther west. As of 9:00 a.m. Friday a WeatherFarm station at Vegreville, Alta. reports rainfall of 60.7 mm for today, and Environment Canada has a heavy rainfall warning in effect for the area. To find current weather information from more than 1,000 […]
GRAINS: U.S. soybeans extend advance on exports, weather worries — July 24, 2014
Reuters — U.S. soybean prices rose to a near two-week high on Thursday on firm export demand and concerns that dry weather in parts of the Midwest crop belt might jeopardize yield prospects, traders said. Corn futures fell to fresh four-year lows, retreating from early gains, and wheat also fell. At the Chicago Board of […]
LIVESTOCK: CME hog futures slide on weaker cash, pork prices — July 24, 2014
Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures on Thursday finished lower, pulled down by softer cash hog and wholesale pork prices, traders said. August finished 1.375 cents per lb lower at 123.200 cents, and October at 107.900, 2.550 cents lower. The average price of market-ready, or cash, hogs Thursday morning in the eastern Midwest, fell […]
U.S. court upholds FDA animal feed policy despite health concern — July 24, 2014
Reuters — A divided federal appeals court on Thursday upheld a U.S. Food and Drug Administration policy allowing the use of various antibiotics in animal feed, even if such use might endanger the public health. Reversing a lower court ruling, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York said the FDA was empowered […]
Most Saskatchewan crops in fair to excellent condition — July 24, 2014
Saskatchewan Agriculture has issued its crop report for the week of July 15-21. A summary follows and the full backgrounder by region is attached. Crop Report July 24 2014 Haying continues in the province and livestock producers now have 42 per cent of the hay crop baled or put into silage, with an additional 49 […]
Brave new world of corn
It can feel like the glory days are over for corn, until you take a harder look
It’s easy enough to get pessimistic about corn these days. Just look at Chicago prices, or look at all the news reports from all around the world about the tremendous corn production potential of everywhere from Brazil to Ukraine. Or you could look closer to home, and get a dose of optimism. That’s what Ken […]
