(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feds open up consultations for sustainable ag strategy

Producer groups to have reps on advisory committee

The federal government has enlisted farm groups on the ground floor of consultations toward development of a long-term strategy to “amplify” the adoption and use of sustainable practices in agriculture over the next year. Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau on Dec. 12 announced the launch of public consultations on strategy development, running from now through March

CBOT January 2023 soybeans with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Rains in drought-hit Argentina pressure CBOT futures

Recession fears add pressure to markets, analysts say

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade grain and soybean futures slid on Monday after beneficial rains hit Argentina’s drought-stricken agricultural zone, analysts said. Argentina is the world’s leading exporter of processed soy, but its usually green Pampas plains have been hit by a historic drought that is preventing many farmers from planting their


(Dave Bedard photo)

AAFC raises canola stocks projection, despite smaller crop

Department also trims wheat ending stocks

MarketsFarm — Canadian canola ending stocks for 2022-23 were revised higher by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in its latest supply/demand estimates, released Friday. The larger carryout projection came despite a downward revision to production, as both exports and domestic usage were also down from the November report. The government agency now sees canola carryout of

CBOT March 2023 corn with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn, wheat futures fall on fund selling

Soybean futures rise

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn and wheat futures dipped on Friday, with concerns about a weakening global economy deterring traders from extending gains made earlier this week. “Fund managers continue to interpret their supply and demand fundamentals through a lens coloured by recession fears,” Arlan Suderman, chief commodities economist at brokerage StoneX, said in


“During this time of high interest rates, it’s becoming more imperative for producers to use low-interest financing tools.” – Syeda Khurram.

Farmers cash in on interest-free loans

This summer the federal government upped the interest-free portion of the Advance Payments Program

Manitoba administrators of the Advance Payments Program say clients are making use of the increased interest-free portion and borrowing more money. “The amount of the advances have [increased] significantly,” said Randy Ozunko, who manages the program for the Manitoba Pork Council. The APP is federally funded and administered by producer groups. It offers up to

CBOT January 2023 soybeans with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soy futures fall despite strong exports

Chicago corn, wheat rise

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures fell on Thursday on concerns that a firm dollar and a weakening global economy could slow the robust pace of exports that has supported prices since harvest, traders said. Wheat futures were strong on a round of bargain buying following declines in eight of the


CBOT March 2023 corn with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn, wheat futures ease

Chicago soybean futures firm

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn and wheat futures fell on Wednesday after hitting 11-day highs a day earlier as traders waited for more bullish news before pushing grain prices above those recent peaks. Soybeans were firm, shedding overnight weakness, with investors hoping that export demand for U.S. supplies of the oilseed will remain strong

The SWOT spacecraft is moved into a transport container inside the Astrotech facility at Vandenberg Space Force Base on Nov. 18, 2022. (Photo: USSF 30th Space Wing/Chris Okula)

NASA to conduct first global water survey from space

Data would bolster weather and climate forecasts

Los Angeles | Reuters — A NASA-led international satellite mission was set for blastoff from southern California early on Thursday on a major Earth science project to conduct a comprehensive survey of the world’s oceans, lakes and rivers for the first time. Dubbed SWOT, short for Surface Water and Ocean Topography, the advanced radar satellite


CBOT March 2023 soybeans with 10-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybean futures rise

Chicago wheat, corn values fall

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures rose on Tuesday, supported by a round of bargain buying after two days of losses as well as signs that export demand remains strong, traders said. Corn and wheat futures weakened on a round of profit taking after hitting 10-day highs early in the session, with light demand

“We wouldn’t be here without them...It’s sort of like we’re paying homage to them.” – Lawrence Knockaert.

Three more for MFGA wall of fame

Regen ag advocates, former leaders and government researchers make up this year’s round of inductees

The Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association has three more names to hang on its wall of honour. Michael Thiele, Mae Elsinger and Henry Nelson are the newest faces on the association’s wall of fame, the MFGA announced during its Nov. 14-15 regenerative agriculture conference in Brandon. Board chair Lawrence Knockaert said the three were chosen