One Canada Square (tower at centre) houses the London head office of the International Grains Council. (Iliffd/iStock/Getty Images)

IGC makes small alterations to monthly report

MarketsFarm — There was very little in the way of changes in the November supply and demand report from the International Grain Council (IGC). The most notable alteration made by the London-based global organization was its four million-tonne reduction to 2022-23 wheat ending stocks, now at 282 million tonnes. The IGC lowered exports from 70



“There are waterhemp populations, mostly in the States, that are resistant to nine different herbicide groups. At that point, you have no options left.” – Kim Brown Livingston.

The end of the chemical era draws near for farms

The future of weed control is going to require a more balanced approach

Chemical herbicides have long been the jewel in the crown of weed management, but after seven decades of use, natural selection is turning back the calendar. Herbicide resistance in weeds was first discovered in the 1980s and the problem has steadily increased. With no new chemistries introduced in more than 30 years, it’s clear that

CBOT January 2023 soybeans (candlesticks, right column) with 20-day moving average (yellow line) and December 2022 soyoil (black line, left column). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybeans follow soybean oil lower

CBOT wheat, corn retreat

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures fell nearly two per cent on Wednesday, anchored by a profit-taking plunge in soyoil and crude oil futures, traders said. Wheat and corn futures declined on optimism about an extension of a deal to protect Black Sea exports, and as fears eased that the Ukraine war could escalate


Cargo ship Despina V, carrying Ukrainian grain, is seen in the Black Sea off Kilyos near Istanbul, Turkey on Nov. 2, 2022.  (Photo: Reuters/Umit Bektas)

Reasons for optimism seen on renewal for Ukraine grain deal

Deal set to roll over on Saturday

Reuters — A United Nations source on Wednesday said they have reasons to be “cautiously optimistic” on the renewal of a Black Sea grains export agreement, which is set to roll over on Saturday unless there are objections. The U.N.-backed agreement on July 22 allowed grain shipments to resume from certain Ukrainian ports on the

Andre Fortin, shown here at right in September at a community fair at Shawville, Que., about 75 km northwest of Ottawa, is the Quebec Liberals’ new critic for agriculture and health. (Andre Fortin via Facebook)

Quebec Liberals’ new ag critic to also handle health file

Fortin to also handle regional development, forestry

A quick re-shuffling of shadow cabinet responsibilities will see the agriculture critic for Quebec’s provincial opposition Liberals now also handle the health file. The Liberals’ interim leader Marc Tanguay — who took over after the Nov. 7 resignation of Dominique Anglade following the Oct. 3 general election — announced Tuesday that Andre Fortin, the party’s


CBOT December 2022 soft red winter wheat (candlesticks) with 20-day moving average (black line), MGEX December 2022 hard red spring wheat (yellow line) and K.C. December 2022 hard red winter wheat (orange line). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat, corn up on reports of Russian missiles hitting Poland

January soybeans also close higher

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. grain futures rallied on Tuesday as reports that Russian missiles crossed into Poland raised concerns about escalating political tensions, market analysts said. A senior U.S. intelligence official said Russian missiles crossed into Poland, killing two people, the Associated Press reported. The Pentagon said it could not confirm reports that Russian

File photo of a CN locomotive in Chicago. (Photo courtesy CN)

Third U.S. union rejects national rail contract deal

Two major unions' decisions due next week

Washington | Reuters — A third U.S. rail union voted on Monday to reject a tentative national contract reached in September, but expects to continue negotiating to reach a deal. The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers (IBB), which represents about 300 U.S. rail employees, rejected the agreement, said the union and the National Carriers’ Conference Committee



A tight stocks situation is being exacerbated by drought in key production regions.

Volatility continues to drive markets

Markets a bit ‘bipolar’, senior market analyst says

The volatile year for agriculture markets is unlikely to abate, says Mike Jubinville, senior market analyst with MarketsFarm Pro. “I look at these markets as bipolar in some cases,” says Jubinville. “On one hand, the macroeconomics have potentially bearish demand implications as fears of a recessionary environment take hold. But on the other hand, we