Reading Time: 2 minutes New York | Reuters — The Trump administration is considering allowing the sale of a higher-ethanol fuel blend in the summer, a source familiar with the issue said, a move that would placate corn growers worried about the future of U.S. biofuels policy. U.S. President Donald Trump recently met with the heads of the Environmental […] Read more
Trump administration weighs high-ethanol fuel waiver to placate farmers
Bayer to sell digital farming business to BASF
Reading Time: 2 minutes Frankfurt | Reuters — Germany’s Bayer plans to sell its digital farming business to BASF as part of changes to concessions it has offered to win over antitrust regulators for its proposed takeover of Monsanto . Bayer, which had previously only agreed to grant a licence to competitors, said on Wednesday that as part of […] Read more
Is there a ‘best’ farm machinery strategy?
AME management: There is never a guarantee that, without the analysis, the right strategy can be forecast
Reading Time: 4 minutes Country Guide’s editor asked whether we see a trend in the machinery strategy of the farmers who take CTEAM, our management course. Behind this is the idea that their experiences may be of value to others. The reality is that many strategies exist, ranging from turning over the complement of equipment every year, to squeezing […] Read more
Trump seen putting biofuel reform push on ice, for now
Reading Time: 3 minutes New York | Reuters — The Trump administration will delay any moves to reform the nation’s biofuel policy for about three months, according to three sources briefed on the matter — a decision one of the sources said was meant to shield farmers worried about a potential trade war with China. The decision comes after […] Read more
Canada reports progress on NAFTA, says ‘we’re not there yet’
Reading Time: 3 minutes Ottawa/Mexico City | Reuters — Mexico, Canada and the U.S. have made good progress in their bid to modernize the NAFTA trade pact but still have work to do, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said Wednesday. Freeland also said she would be flying to Washington for a meeting on Thursday with U.S. Trade Representative Robert […] Read more
Richardson to take food innovation downtown
Reading Time: 3 minutes Canadian grain and agrifood firm Richardson International plans to marshal its food research and product development crews in a new downtown Winnipeg space. The privately-held, Winnipeg-based company announced Wednesday it will put up over $30 million to build what it calls the Richardson Innovation Centre, a four-story, 62,000-square foot facility to go up a block […] Read more
Morriss, Pakosh, Streichs named to ag hall of fame
Reading Time: 2 minutes The Manitoba farmers who developed the rotary separator for combines, the co-founder of Versatile and the long-time editorial director for the website you’re reading are bound for Manitoba’s Agricultural Hall of Fame. The hall of fame on Monday unofficially announced its 2018 group of inductees, ahead of its annual meeting Wednesday in Portage la Prairie […] Read more
Versatile debuts new machinery for 2018
Winnipeg-based manufacturer shows new combine, anniversary tractor
Reading Time: 3 minutes The regional Manitoba Ag Days indoor farm machinery show in Brandon takes place every January, but isn’t exactly known as the kind of event where major manufacturers debut new machines — with one notable exception. Versatile, whose manufacturing plant is just two hours down the highway, has embraced the event as a place to show […] Read more
Senate hands back transport bill, with changes
Reading Time: 3 minutes Federal legislation sought by farm groups wanting improvements to rail service for the grain sector is on its way back from the Senate to the House of Commons. Senators on Thursday afternoon passed Bill C-49, the Transportation Modernization Act, on third reading — but with several amendments proposed Wednesday by the standing Senate committee on […] Read more
Canadian railways in catch-22 over crude shipment
Reading Time: 3 minutes Reuters — Canadian railway operators see a lucrative opportunity to transport more crude oil to the U.S. as a rise in output forces producers to find new routes to its southern neighbour. However, their need for long-term contracts and the pressure to move a surplus of grains in the country is making it hard to […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
