Reading Time: 3 minutes (Resource News International) — The implementation of a second shift at Maple Leaf’s pork plant at Brandon, Man., is still underway but so far the process has been successful, according to Jeanette Jones, director of communications for Maple Leaf Foods. In September, Maple Leaf began a second front-end shift at its existing state-of-the-art primary processing […] Read more
Maple Leaf’s Brandon hog plant hits initial targets
Lack of competition fuels high fertilizer prices: FNA
Reading Time: 2 minutes (Resource News International) — A lack of competition in Canada enables fertilizer manufacturers to charge higher prices in Canada than in the U.S., according to Jason Mann, chief operating officer for Farmers of North America (FNA) in Saskatoon. Canada, especially Western Canada, does not have the same level of competition in the fertilizer industry as […] Read more
Exporters share freight rate burden
Reading Time: 3 minutes (Resource News International) — Profit margins of Canadian exporters have suffered as ocean freight rates increased exponentially in just three years’ time, according to a senior industry source with a large international firm. According to the industry source, a canola shipment from Vancouver to China currently costs US$103 per tonne, whereas the price three years […] Read more
Chickpea market seen firm for now
Reading Time: 2 minutes (Resource News International) — The chickpea market is likely to stay firm in the near term, according to Parrish and Heimbecker’s special crops marketing rep in Lethbridge. Jim Rempel said prices are currently near the top end of the range but noted that high prices will not necessarily translate into more area being seeded with […] Read more
Chinese tariffs disadvantage Canadian canola
Reading Time: 2 minutes (Resource News International) — China’s recent soybean tariff reduction puts Canadian canola producers at a disadvantage, according to Dave Hickling of the Canola Council of Canada. Hickling , the council’s vice-president of canola utilization, said a variety of issues are responsible for Canada’s canola seed exports declining in September and October. One of those, he […] Read more
Mustard seed price rises, sharply
Reading Time: 2 minutes (Resource News International) — The price of Canadian mustard rose significantly over the past few weeks as a result of lower production in both Canada and Europe, according to a federal special crops analyst. According to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, mustard ending stocks are estimated at 20,000 tonnes. This was revised downward from earlier estimates […] Read more
Corn growers cautious on WTO cotton ruling
Reading Time: 2 minutes (Resource News International) — A recent World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling which found the US failed to stop illegal cotton subsidies may only provide indirect support for Canadian corn growers pressing for an end to US corn subsidies. Theresa Bergsma, secretary-manager of the Manitoba Corn Growers’ Association and spokesperson for the Canadian Corn Producers (CCP) […] Read more
Malting barley quality lower as stocks tighten
Reading Time: 2 minutes (Resource News International) — Maltsters will have to adjust accordingly this year as the quality of malting barley suffers due to tight global barley supply, according to Trent Rude, merchandising manager for malting barley, oats and rye for Viterra. The global barley supply tightened this year due to poor production and quality concerns, particularly in […] Read more
Canadian negotiators optimistic on Doha round
Reading Time: 3 minutes (Resource News International) — Canadian negotiators remain optimistic regarding progress made at the World Trade Organization’s latest session of the Doha round, even as they continue to defend supply management boards and the Canadian Wheat Board’s (CWB) marketing monopoly, according to Canada’s chief agricultural negotiator at the WTO talks. Steve Verheul, director of the trade […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
