U. S. Crops Still Look Big

For three-times-daily market reports from Don Bousquet and RNI, visit “ICE Futures Canada updates” at www.manitobacooperator.ca Grain and oilseed prices at ICE Futures Canada in Winnipeg closed the week ended Nov. 6 mixed. Canola was pressured down by weakness in the U. S. soybean market and firmness in the Canadian dollar. The advancing harvest in

Grain Volatility To Stay High In 2010

Prices of agricultural commodities will remain volatile in 2010 due to supply constraints, volatile shipping costs and a constant demand pull from new demand sources like biofuels, North American Export Grain Association president and CEO Gary Martin said Nov. 3. “In the last three years, volatility in this industry has increased and it’s likely to


Canada-China Continue Canola Talks

Talks between Canadian and Chinese government officials about a resolution to China’s refusal to import Canadian canola seed with blackleg disease are continuing, Canadian Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said Nov. 7. China, Canada’s biggest canola seed market last year, is refusing to accept Canadian canola with the disease as of Nov. 15 and has not

Biodiesel Mandate In Effect For Manitoba

Manitoba has become the first province in Canada to require biodiesel in diesel fuel. Fuel suppliers are now legally required to include a blend of two per cent biodiesel in their overall sales of on-road and off-road diesel. Manitoba is expected to use at least 20 million litres of biodiesel a year as a result


You’ll Need A GM Test First Starting Dec. 1

Starting Dec. 1, western Canadian flax will have to be tested for the presence of genetically modified (GM) flax before elevators will accept delivery. It’s part of the protocol reached recently between Canada and the European Union (EU) to ensure the EU gets GM-free flax from Canada, says Flax Council of Canada president Barry Hall.

Environmental Laws Reshaping Face Of Brazil Farming

Laws designed to limit deforestation in Brazil will increase the need for more intensive farming and ranching to keep up with rising world demand for food, the governor of Brazil’s largest agricultural state said Nov. 5. “It’s not going to be easy because we are not clearing more land in Brazil for agricultural purposes so


Gmo Approval May Not Help U. S. Soy Shipments To EU

U. S. shipments of soybeans and soymeal to the European Union are unlikely to return to normal anytime soon, despite the EU expanding which varieties of biotech grain may enter the bloc, industry experts said Nov. 2. This summer, over 200,000 tonnes of soybean and soymeal were refused entry to EU ports, largely in Spain,

Minister Says Canadian Canola Doesn’t Sprout

Efforts to dissuade China from blocking imports of Canadian canola over fears of blackleg haven’t gone well, and comments by Canada’s agriculture minister may not have helped. Gerry Ritz said Monday in Winnipeg he told Chinese officials they needn’t fear their farmers growing Canadian canola because the seed won’t grow. “I assured them that with


Canola Stages An Impressive Comeback

For three-times-daily market reports from Don Bousquet and RNI, visit “ICE Futures Canada updates” at www.manitobacooperator.ca Gr a i n and oilseed prices at ICE Futures Canada in Winnipeg closed the week ended Oct. 30 mixed with canola higher and barley lower. Canola prices climbed back after their collapse on the news that China would

EU, Canada Agree To Flax-Shipping Protocol

“We found less than 10 positive results in the value chain (handling system) so far.” – REMI GOSSELIN The European Union (EU) has accepted Canada’s protocol designed to keep GM flax out of Canadian flax exports to the EU. It’s another step towards resuming Canadian flax exports to the European Union (EU), on hold since