(Laura Rance photo)

Corteva cuts U.S. jobs while exiting Russia

California plant produces seed for sunflower growers

Chicago | Reuters — Seeds and pesticides company Corteva will eliminate U.S. jobs next year, as its exit from Russia reduces demand for its commercial sunflower seeds produced in California, the company said on Monday. Corteva will cut 51 positions from a Woodland, California facility, run by its Pioneer Hi-Bred International subsidiary, that supplied Europe

(iStock/Getty Images Plus)

Second Seeds Canada merger vote to proceed sans CSGA

Seed Growers membership had voted against amalgamation deal

A proposal to combine Canada’s seed industry groups into a single organization, to be dubbed Seeds Canada, will be subject to a new vote, this time with one less group on board. The Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA), Canadian Plant Technology Agency (CPTA); Commercial Seed Analysts Association of Canada (CSAAC) and Canadian Seed Institute announced


Much to consider after merger rejection

Much to consider after merger rejection

Seeds Canada is likely but the seed growers’ association won’t be joining

Canada’s seed sector has some contemplating and healing to do in the wake of seed grower association members rejecting a merger with four other seed groups, which would have formed a new, single entity called Seeds Canada. Since the other four voted strongly to merge, it’s expected Seeds Canada will go ahead, but without the

(Jack Dykinga photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

National seeds sector groups put merger plan to vote

New organization, if approved, would be called Seeds Canada

Members of five national seed sector organizations are set to vote this summer on their proposed amalgamation under a single banner, Seeds Canada. A “detailed ratification package” has gone out to members of the Canadian Seed Growers’ Association (CSGA), Canadian Seed Institute (CSI), Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA), Canadian Plant Technology Agency (CPTA) and Commercial

Come together?

Come together?

Seed sector ponders forming a unified voice, but some worry farmers won’t be heard

A meeting set for this summer in Winnipeg could be the scene of a historic vote to reorganize the Canadian seed industry. Seed Synergy, a plan to unite Canada’s five main seed-related organizations, could be put to a vote in July at the Canadian Seed Growers Association’s (CSGA) 116th annual meeting. It would see five


“We’re very diverse in Manitoba. The specialty crop sector is growing so I think our acres (of pedigreed seed) are going to be pretty solid.” – Andrew Ayre, MSGA

Manitoba loses pedigreed seed acres crown

Edged out by Alberta, Manitoba should rebound in 2020 if soybean plantings come roaring back

Manitoba’s long-held title as Canada’s top pedigreed seed producer ended in 2019. After seven consecutive years in top spot Alberta edged Manitoba out by just 8,468 acres, figures in the Manitoba Seed Growers’ Association’s (MSGA) 2019 annual report show. Alberta seeded 349,411 acres of pedigreed seed last year versus Manitoba’s 340,942 acres, putting it in

Lowe Farm farmer Butch Harder told the seed growers’ meeting he opposes additional royalties for cereal breeders, calling the plan a “seed tax.”

The ‘value capture’ conundrum

A proposal to better compensate cereal breeders will almost certainly cost farmers more 
either when they buy seed or when they deliver grain to the elevator

Some call it a cereals ‘seed tax’ while others say it’s an investment in improved varieties. Either way, Canadian farmers face paying more for new varieties, or when they deliver the crop, if one of two proposed new “value capture” models is implemented by the federal government in 2019. “We want Canada to continue to