Reading Time: 4 minutes The Ontario government has balanced its budget for the first time in since 2008 — but Thursday’s budget contained little news for agriculture and rural Ontario. Finance Minister Charles Sousa’s budget mostly highlighted agriculture programs that had already been announced, and maintains $100 million in funding for the provincial Risk Management Program, which helps offsets […] Read more
Ontario budget seeks tax flexibility for on-farm processing
Fertilizer expected to be pricier by springtime
Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada –– Relatively cheap natural gas has helped push down fertilizer prices for Canadian farmers over the past winter, but that should change by springtime. One Manitoba farm leader noted urea fertilizer that went for $545 per tonne last August could now be acquired for $445 per tonne. “Phosphate fertilizer was going for $721 […] Read more
Global markets: Apple in China, U.S. oil rig flatlining
Reading Time: < 1 minute CNS Canada –– The following is a glance at the news moving markets globally. APPLE CEO SAYS HE IS NOT WORRIED ABOUT OPENING STORE IN CHINA — Apple CEO Tim Cook has said he is not concerned about opening a new store in China, despite the country’s recent economic downturn. China has seen losses in […] Read more
CVR to buy Rentech arm in N fertilizer merger
Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — Nitrogen fertilizer producer CVR Partners said Monday it would buy Rentech Nitrogen Partners for US$533 million, excluding debt, as global fertilizer makers scale up at a time when increased supplies weigh on nitrogen prices. The deal creates North America’s fifth-largest nitrogen producer, vaulting the companies past Norway-based Yara International. It comes less than […] Read more
U.S. farmers seen cutting back on pricey fertilizers
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. farmers will likely use less nitrogen fertilizer this season with the cost sky-high even though the price of natural gas, the key ingredient to make it, is down 40 per cent from last year. The reduction in usage should hit corn plantings more than other crops, since nitrogen is the […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
