Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — The European Union will likely import more canola (rapeseed) this year than earlier thought, but any increased movement should come from Australia or Ukraine rather than Canada, according to updated projections from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. USDA raised its forecast for European rapeseed imports during the 2022-23 marketing year by 550,000 tonnes, […] Read more

USDA sees increased EU canola imports, no extra from Canada
U.S. also projects higher Canadian ending stocks

ICE weekly outlook: Upswings likely out of question for canola
Canada's exports expected to ebb
Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Don’t expect any large increases in canola prices any time soon, according to Ken Ball of PI Financial in Winnipeg. In fact, there’s a good chance seen that old-crop canola could fall below its support level of $800 per tonne. Ball said 2022-23 canola ending stocks in Canada could increase because of the […] Read more

Canada reported seeking formal talks with Mexico on GMO rule
U.S. already seeking similar talks
Reading Time: < 1 minute Ottawa | Reuters — Canada has asked for formal consultations with Mexico over its restrictions on genetically modified (GM) agricultural imports under the North American free-trade agreement, Bloomberg News reported Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. Canada requested the talks on Tuesday, according to Bloomberg, a day after the U.S. requested formal trade consultations […] Read more

Morocco adjusts wheat import scheme in nod to Black Sea
Move could bump up competition among exporters
Reading Time: 2 minutes Rabat/Paris | Reuters — Morocco, a major cereal importer, has modified its wheat import subsidy scheme to make it easier for companies to bring in cargoes from the Black Sea region, an official at state grain agency ONICL said on Wednesday. The revision, also reported by traders, means that as of March importers are able […] Read more

BASF halting hybrid wheat seed development in North America
Results 'have not achieved development goals we set'
Reading Time: < 1 minute Reuters — Global chemicals and crop seeds company BASF is halting development of hybrid wheat in North America after results of seed trials failed to reach development goals, the company told Reuters on Wednesday. BASF will instead focus development of the new type of wheat in European markets, aiming to launch the technology there “toward […] Read more

‘Normal’ spring ahead for most of the Prairies
Below-normal rains expected for southern Alberta, western Saskatchewan
Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Canada’s Prairies are looking at normal temperatures over the next month to three months, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). The federal department on Tuesday issued its temperature and precipitation probabilistic forecasts, which also called for normal precipitation for most of the region. “The forecast is really neutral for the Prairies, […] Read more

Multi-million-dollar fund greenlights soil health projects
Eight projects to push soil health practices will get funding for the next five years
Reading Time: 2 minutes Eight soil health projects across Canada will be getting a multi-million-dollar boost in private funding over the next five years. The Weston Family Foundation — the philanthropic arm of the Weston business empire — has slated $10 million for those eight projects through the organization’s soil health initiative, it was announced Feb. 13. The initiative […] Read more

New U.S. ag trade chief demands Canada broaden dairy quota access
USTR's new ag rep's eyes also on Mexico GM corn ban
Reading Time: 2 minutes Washington | Reuters — Canada must let U.S. processors of cheese, ice cream, yogurt, milk powder and other dairy products have access to its import quotas to resolve a second U.S. dairy trade challenge, Washington’s new agricultural trade boss told Reuters. Doug McKalip, chief agricultural trade negotiator for the U.S. Trade Representative’s office, told Reuters […] Read more

Canada’s potato crop edges up in 2022
Alberta up into top spot among potato-producing provinces
Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Statistics Canada (StatCan) issued its potato production report Thursday, which noted a 1.5 per cent increase in the country’s crop in 2022. Across Canada, nearly 122.9 million hundredweight (cwt) of potatoes were harvested last year, with an average national yield of 322.3 cwt/acre on 381,351 acres. Alberta rose from third into the top […] Read more

Canada withdraws proposed measures banning certain rifles, shotguns
Critics said plan was unfair to farmers, hunters
Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — Canada has withdrawn proposed amendments to gun legislation that would have banned certain types of rifles and shotguns, the government said on Friday, after opponents alleged the prohibitions unfairly targeted farmers and hunters. The amendments were added to a gun control package that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government introduced last year after the […] Read more