Challenging times in the machinery market continue, as tractor sales in Canada slump. According to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers' April data, year-to-date tractor sales in Canada are down 18.6 percent from last year. 4-wheel-drive sales are down 22.1 percent, while 2-wheel-drive sales are down 18.4 percent. Combine sales in Canada are bucking the trend,... Read More
Category: Ag Business
Monsanto and Bayer both confirmed late Wednesday that there's been communication between the two companies about Bayer buying Monsanto. If a deal between the two ag giants is reached, it would certainly have an impact on Canadian agriculture, particularly in the Western Canadian canola market. RealAg's Shaun Haney and Kelvin Heppner took some time on... Read More
After reports last week that Bayer was considering making an offer, Monsanto has confirmed it has received an acquisition proposal from the German chemical and pharmaceutical company. The company issued the following statement late Wednesday: In response to recent media reports, Monsanto Company disclosed that it has received an unsolicited, non-binding proposal from Bayer AG... Read More
How will the Ontario government’s $7 billion Climate Change Action Plan affect the province’s agriculture industry? Based on the details released this week in the Globe and Mail, the big jolt would likely come in the form of a phase-out of natural gas in the province. Farm leaders have lobbied hard for the gasification of... Read More
Last week, Eric Micheels, assistant professor in the Agricultural and Resource Economics department at the University of Saskatchewan, tweeted a link to his newly-minted dissertation, entitled Market Orientation in Production Agriculture: Measurement, Relationships and Implications. Now, normally, the word "dissertation" would do little to pique my interest, but Micheels has been vocal through the Earls... Read More
In March, Monsanto CEO Hugh Grant stated that his global seed and trait company was going to focus on research and development instead of a agri-business mega merger. Even if that was his intent, the talk of a possible merger or acquisition didn't go away for long. This week Reuters and Bloomberg have been aflutter... Read More
Rain, and even some snow, has slowed seeding progress on the prairies, but nobody's complaining. Cool temperatures, meanwhile, are hampering planting in Ontario and creating some nutrient issues, as we hear from Whete Pete. There are new reports of Bayer and BASF considering bids for Monsanto, soybean markets soared thanks to the USDA and barbecue... Read More
Agrocorp Canada is expanding its pulse origination network in Western Canada, announcing a deal to purchase a Saskatchewan pulse processor and exporter. The acquisition of Veikle Grain, with its facility on the CP Rail mainline near Cut Knife, will expand Agrocorp's presence in northwest Saskatchewan. “We continue to accelerate our bulk vessel and containerized business... Read More
News of the growth and success of the Canadian Dairy XPO helped attract a number of international companies to the Stratford, Ontario industry showcase. CDX, which for 2016 moved from its traditional February dates to April 6 and 7, attracted 14,900 visitors over two days. Farmers visiting the new WeCover Cow Coliseum discovered a hub... Read More
The media firestorm caused by Earls Kitchen + Bar's pursuit of the “Certified Humane” standard has quickly become a cautionary tale for both the farm and food industry. It’s a situation a coalition of Ontario farm organizations are hoping to avoid by working with the food and beverage sector to help clarify and streamline sustainability... Read More