Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures closed slightly firm on Thursday, supported by hopes that stepped-up exports to Europe would make up for business lost in a trade fight with China, traders said. Corn futures also settled in positive territory while wheat was mostly lower, weighed down by technical selling. Soybeans, corn and wheat […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soy, corn futures close firm
Trade uncertainty hitting canary seed markets
Reading Time: 3 minutes CNS Canada — July is usually when Canadian canary seed prices weaken as producers dump unsold product onto the market — but this year that might not happen as trade uncertainty around the world affects the markets. “We tend to see weakness in July and then strength in the fall, but I don’t know if […] Read more
CBOT weekly outlook: U.S./China trade uncertainty weighs on soy
Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — Trade uncertainty between China and the U.S., along with good U.S. growing conditions, is pressuring the soybean market on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT). During the week ended Wednesday, the July CBOT soybean contract dropped about 30 cents to $9.9425 per bushel (all figures US$). “The trade uncertainty is a major […] Read more
Working (and learning) abroad
More young Canadians are looking to gain wider perspectives by working on farms in other countries
Reading Time: 6 minutes Ask almost anyone who has spent time abroad and they’ll tell you it was a life-changing experience. Inevitably, their faces will light up as they talk enthusiastically about how they gained confidence, developed friendships with people from around the world and emerged with a broader perspective. Not surprisingly, this was precisely the reaction I got […] Read more
How lean farming is a little different in Europe
Reading Time: 3 minutes The European model of “lean” farming is a little different from the North American version, and although the primary focus is still eliminating waste, lean takes a more people-focused approach and shares similarities with the principles of holistic management. “The lean approach we take is more about management and people,” says Susanne Pejstrup, a Danish […] Read more
Higher prices could give flax acres a chance
Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — Strong demand for Canadian flax, combined with small production, has driven prices up, which could tempt producers making seeding choices this spring. Last year, the amount of flax seeded in Canada was down about a third from the previous growing season. As a result, stocks are short, despite large carryover. Demand, however, […] Read more
Durum lacks momentum ahead of competing harvests
Reading Time: < 1 minute CNS Canada — Canadian durum prices are at a standstill as the market looks to upcoming production, while domestic crops act as a “wild card,” one Winnipeg-based analyst says. “The durum market is certainly quiet right now. We’re kind of in that period where we’re in a lull,” said Jerry Klassen, manager of the Canadian […] Read more
Canada’s durum market share seen dropping
Reading Time: < 1 minute CNS Canada –– Global durum values are moving lower as producers in Europe and the U.S. start selling — and leaving Canada out of the market, one analyst says. “The only one that’s not selling aggressively is Canada, and we’re losing market share, big time,” said Jerry Klassen, manager of the Canadian office for Swiss-based […] Read more
Wet wheat weather watched worldwide
Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — Generous rainfall has benefited but also boosted the risk of disease on wheat crops in much of Canada and the U.S., and has also cut into grain quality in parts of Europe. However, according to Drew Lerner of U.S. forecast agency World Weather Inc., conditions during the harvest season will be the […] Read more
Stacked LL/RR canola off the menu for 2016
Reading Time: 2 minutes The first canola hybrid to stack Genuity Roundup Ready and LibertyLink traits in one seed won’t be on the market for this growing season. Just weeks after its Jan. 22 announcement of a limited launch for InVigor Choice LR250 for the 2016 season, Bayer CropScience Canada now says concerns over seed quality and export market access have […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
