The outlook for the new ICE Future Canada’s wheat futures market isn’t great, according to Neil Townsend, the Canadian Wheat Board’s North American market analyst. The long-running spring wheat futures market in Minneapolis didn’t get enough business before the Winnipeg market launched in January, he said. As a result, Minneapolis wasn’t “liquid” enough — a
New ICE wheat contract will struggle
FNA gets into cash advance administration
Ontario’s ACC wants to expand in the West, but only into crops that aren’t covered now, says Jaye Atkins
Farmers taking out cash advances on their crops this year will see some changes in who is administering the programs. As the Canadian Canola Growers Association expands its administration to take over the crops formerly handled by the Canadian Wheat Board, a new player has emerged to manage the program for several commodities in OntarioFarmers want an exemption
A warm, dry spring has the Manitoba government reconsidering its new nutrient application rules that prevent fertilizer applications before April 10, a provincial official said March 15. “If the warm weather conditions continue and soils across the province are fully thawed, then the department (Conservation and Water Stewardship) will consider a blanket variation for all
Currency risk protection offered
Volatile currencies can hurt your bottom line more than changes in commodity prices. That’s why the Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP), in conjunction with Western Union Business Solutions, is introducing a new foreign exchange risk-management program. “If it makes sense to a producer, we can provide a solution,” said Mark Kelly, Western Union Business Solutions’ senior
CWB officials promote pools at grower meetings
While the Canadian Wheat Board had its monopoly, some farmers complained getting a “good, average price” for wheat wasn’t good enough. But in the coming open market, the board is betting lots will think that’s pretty good. “The average of the market through a pooling operation does actually return people the best value, overall, over
CWB fleshes out wheat pricing options
Grain companies including the government-owned Canadian Wheat Board had new contracts and pricing options for Prairie wheat, barley and durum on display here at a recent farmer meeting as the open market approaches Aug. 1. So far, the new CWB will be the only company continuing to offer pooling options. Official told farmers it’s aiming
Cigi being wooed to move to Saskatoon
Fears that scrapping the monopoly-powered wheat board could undermine Winnipeg’s grain sector hegemony were bolstered with news Saskatoon wants Cigi (Canadian International Grains Institute) to move there. The offer came Nov. 29 during a meeting with Saskatoon economic development group representatives, Rex Newkirk, Cigi’s director of research and business development said in an interview March
2012 wheat midge forecast low to moderate
North Dakota expects fewer wheat midge in 2012 and the outlook is similar for Manitoba. There could be some localized hot spots in western Manitoba but overall populations of the insect that can damage wheat kernels will be low to moderate, says Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives entomologist John Gavloski. The presence of wheat
Americans want to be able to deliver wheat to Canadian elevators starting Aug. 1
Canada is considering changes to its wheat quality control system making it easier for American farmers to ship wheat north of the border. “We are working on an initiative that will see the grading systems more in parallel,” Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz told reporters Feb. 24 during a telephone news conference from Washington, D.C. “Certainly
Weeds helped save his farm
Weeds aren’t always a farmer’s enemy. Sometimes they’re an ally. Grant Rigby says weeds helped him tackle soil salinity on his farm near Killarney and led him into organic agriculture. “The fundamental reason I dropped herbicide spraying was to allow plants to live on those areas of the farm where the crops I planted were