Reading Time: 3 minutes The Iranian foreign minister said the Strait of Hormuz was open on Friday following a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, but shipping companies reacted cautiously.
Daily news
Iran says Strait of Hormuz open as Trump sees deal ‘soon’ to end war
Shipping companies react cautiously; timing of peace talks remains uncertain
Agriculture groups welcome seed, fertilizer approval bill
Bill could improve Canadian farmers’ competitiveness say farm groups
Reading Time: 2 minutes Agriculture and industry groups praise recently introduced Bill C-273, which would allow provisional approval for products like fertilizers and pesticides if already approved in at least two trusted jurisdictions.
AAFC projects tighter canola stocks for 2026-27
New crop wheat ending stocks held at 5.750 million tonnes, while the 2025-26 wheat carryout was projected at 7.250 million tonnes
Reading Time: 3 minutes Canadian canola carryout supplies at the end of the upcoming 2026-27 marketing year will be tighter than earlier projections, according to updated supply and demand estimates from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, released April 17.
U.S. buyers redirect imported fertilizer overseas as Iran war drives up global prices
Reading Time: 2 minutes Higher overseas prices are leading U.S. fertilizer buyers to resell into more lucrative markets.
Monarch electric tractor’s future in Canada unclear as Caterpillar takes over
Canadian distributor Haggerty AgRobotics says it will find ways to support current Monarch tractor owners
Reading Time: 3 minutes The Canadian distributor of Monarch tractors says it will continue support Monarch tractor owners after the electric utility tractor maker was purchased by Caterpillar.
Western Australia farmers turn to canola over wheat as fuel, fertilizer costs rise
Reading Time: 2 minutes Farmers in Western Australia will swing to canola from wheat and plant less land than last year as they grapple with concerns over the availability and cost of fuel and fertilizer.
U.S. is leading G20 initiative to ensure fertilizer access, sources say
IMF, UN warn supply chain disruptions from war could push millions into food insecurity
Reading Time: < 1 minute The U.S. is urging G20 members and the International Monetary Fund and World Bank to take coordinated action to ensure fertilizer access amid disruptions in food trade supply chains caused by the war in the Middle East.
Canadian farmers at slight revenue disadvantage to U.S. despite cheaper land costs
Canadian cultivated farmland cost $6,900 per acre in 2025 on average compared to $8,150 per acre in the U.S.
Reading Time: 2 minutes American farmland prices are consitently higher than Canadian values. However, American farmers see a slight advantage based on revenue per acre dedicated to land payments.
Feed grain weekly: Western Canadian barley bids seasonally firm
Reading Time: 2 minutes Feed grain bids in Western Canada were showing strength in mid-April, underpinned by seasonal trends and solid export demand.
China’s Q1 pork output up 4.2 per cent from a year earlier, lags expectations
Reading Time: < 1 minute China’s pork production rose 4.2 per cent in the first quarter of 2026 from a year earlier as hog producers accelerated slaughtering to address a supply glut.