Province active in Growing Forward discussions A letter (“Where is the vision?” July 5) from the PC member from Midland, Blaine Pedersen, failed to provide Manitobans and producers in our province with helpful information when it comes to Growing Forward 2. Growing Forward is often referred to as the single most important Agricultural Policy Framework


Proposed changes to the federal/provincial farm income stabilization program beyond this year are expected to lead to tighter eligibility for a program payout, according to a producer group observing the planning process. In its Grass Routes newsletter, Alberta Beef Producers reported some suggestion among federal and provincial agriculture ministers that governments should “rebalance their books

Futures industry shaken as another broker goes bankrupt

Reuters / Russell Wasendorf Sr., arrested last Friday, confessed to a 20-year fraud at Peregrine Financial Group (PFG), his now-bankrupt Iowa brokerage, saying business troubles and his “big” ego left him no choice: “So I cheated.” In the dramatic conclusion to a week-long saga that has shaken trader confidence in the trillion-dollar U.S. futures markets,



Producers expecting even stronger prices this fall

The cattle auction yards in Manitoba continued to operate in a holiday-reduced atmosphere, but values for the cattle market held fully steady levels during the week ended June 29. The fully steady levels came despite the “significant” drop seen in U.S. livestock futures over the same week, an industry official said. “We had an increase



CBOT, grain traders face off in court

chicago / reuters / CME Group faced off with a group of traders in Federal Court June 26 over new rules for settling end-of-day grain prices that the traders fear will put them out of business. The traders, who work in the open-outcry pits at CME’s Chicago Board of Trade, are fighting to preserve a


CWB announces more handling agreements, Japan sale

Farmers can now deliver to the wheat board through 120 elevators 
across the West and more grain companies are expected to participate

Things are starting to look up for the Canadian Wheat Board. Last week it announced six more grain companies will handle its grain making it practical for farmers across the West to patronize the board, and it announced a big wheat sale to Japan. Until the new handling agreements were announced June 21 at the

New player in deregulated market

A Southeast Asian agri-food processor and a U.S. commodity trading firm are pairing up to enter the deregulated Prairie grain and oilseed supply chain. Singapore-based Olam International and Kansas City’s Lansing Trade Group have announced a new 50-50 joint venture, Lansing Olam Canada, to “originate and merchandise Canadian grains and oilseeds.” The two companies said