Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Sunflower seed has found itself caught up with the general strength seen in most agricultural markets, with the Russian invasion of Ukraine adding another layer of uncertainty to the market as the two countries are both major world producers. “We believe sunflowers are a very attractive option going into 2022,” said Robert Deraas, […] Read more
Sunflower market seeing broad strength
Pulse weekly outlook: India removes tariffs on most lentil imports
Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Lentil suppliers in Canada have received a bit of a boost from a surprise policy decision overseas. India’s government on Feb. 12 suspended all tariffs on most lentil imports, which will reduce costs for its two largest exporters, Canada and Australia, to ship the crop to the country. The tariff removal is not […] Read more
Canada shuts ports to Russian ships over Ukraine invasion
Russian firms' Canadian holdings also under scrutiny, Freeland warns
Reading Time: 2 minutes Toronto | Reuters — Canada ratcheted up pressure on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine by shutting ports to Russian-owned ships and saying on Tuesday that holdings of all Russian oligarchs and companies in the country are under review. Canada has announced a slew of measures to isolate Russia, including imposing sanctions on Russian President […] Read more
Environment Canada calls for colder-than-normal Prairie spring
Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Colder-than-normal temperatures are in the long-range forecast across most of the Canadian Prairies, according to the latest long-range outlook from Environment Canada. The latest seasonal forecast from the government agency, released Monday, calls for a 40-50 per cent chance of below-normal temperatures from March through May for most of the three Prairie provinces, […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Four factors to consider before going with peas
Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — There are four factors to consider before deciding whether to plant dry peas this spring, according to Darryl Domitruk, executive director of Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers at Carman, Man. The first is field selection, as peas need to be planted with less residuals such as nitrates, Domitruk said. “Pulses manufacture their own […] Read more
Rising prices could lead to more mustard acres
Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — A further tightening in Canada’s mustard supply is the main culprit in recent price spikes for the seed. Yellow mustard in Western Canada has a high-delivered bid of $1.61/lb., up 10 cents from last month and $1.18 higher than last year, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire data. Over the past month, the high-delivered […] Read more
Canada to ease travel requirements as COVID cases decline
Reading Time: 2 minutes Updated — Ottawa | Reuters — Canada will ease entry for fully vaccinated international travelers starting Feb. 28 as COVID-19 cases decline, allowing a rapid antigen test for travelers instead of a molecular one, officials said Tuesday. Antigen tests are cheaper than a molecular test and can provide results within minutes. The new measures, which […] Read more
China blocks Lithuanian beef, dairy, beer as Taiwan row grows
Canada seeks to join EU trade case against China
Reading Time: 2 minutes Beijing/Vilnius | Reuters — China suspended imports of beef, dairy and beer from Lithuania this week, Lithuania’s veterinary control agency said on Thursday, amid a growing trade dispute over the Baltic nation’s relations with Taiwan. China’s General Administration of Customs had informed the country it was halting the exports due to “lack of documentation,” the […] Read more
More government action likely as border blockades hit trade
Manitoba's main crossing now also blocked
Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — The shutdown of a vital U.S.-Canada trade route is knocking out automakers’ operations as the business impact from the two-week-old protests against Canada’s pandemic measures ramp up pressure on authorities to quell the demonstrations. The protests started as a “Freedom Convoy” occupying downtown Ottawa, opposing a vaccinate-or-quarantine mandate for cross-border truckers mirrored by […] Read more
Canada, U.S. fear economic damage from border crossing protest
Headway in one area, another protest elsewhere, minister says
Reading Time: 3 minutes Windsor/Ottawa/Washington | Reuters — Truckers blocking U.S-Canada border crossings risk hurting the auto industry and agriculture, the White House said on Wednesday as Ottawa urged an end to the 13-day demonstration against coronavirus mandates. After nearly two years of pandemic measures in many countries, opposition has sprung up in different ways with copycat protests in […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
