Changes in U.S. monetary policy could be worth paying attention to in the next year. After nearly six years, the Federal Reserve announced this week that it is ending “quantitative easing,” the bond buy-back program implemented to help the U.S. economy through the recession. The end of QE is seen by many as a step... Read More
Category: Eastern Canada
As we say goodbye to October, colder weather is setting in just as the markets could be warming up. More than a few analysts are pointing to soy meal as a driver of the sustained rally we’ve seen in the grain markets recently, but the move is now beyond “rational levels”. With an increase in... Read More
Are you ready for corn prices down around $2.70/bushel, or soybeans under $7 next fall? Those numbers were included in some of the projections shared in Winnipeg this week, as market analysts and traders from around the world gathered for the second annual Cereals North America market outlook conference. The conference was organized and co-hosted... Read More
Municipal elections took place this week in Ontario, delivering to us a whole new slate of wide-eyed municipal councillors. Many of them ran on platforms of change, hope, difference and progress, and I believe they meant it. Typically, municipal councils are populated by well-intentioned people determined to help their own community. Municipal councillors don’t want... Read More
The bulls have continued to lead grain markets higher over the past week, translating into a selling opportunity for 2015 and even 2016, according to bearish analysts. From the Cereals North America market outlook conference in Winnipeg, here’s our weekly farm news recap for October 30th, 2014. Kelvin recaps what’s happened in the markets, the... Read More
John Deere’s new W260 self-propelled windrower and 500R platform were on display at the Farm Progress Show this year. “The combination of the W260 Windrower and 500R Platform results in improved cut quality and consistent windrow formation to minimize dry-down time and deliver high-quality hay and forage,” said James Petersen, senior marketing representative, John Deere... Read More
Hearing yourself on the radio or — gulp — seeing yourself on TV can cause cold sweats for some. An estimated 75% of us fear public speaking — now add in that the public discussion may be recorded and broadcast and it's no wonder not everyone volunteers to speak to media. Of course, there are... Read More
Do you know what quality impact moving corn through your handling, drying and storage set up has? It can be significant, but if you're not sampling (and sampling properly) at several points in the process, you can't know for sure. What's more, a good chunk of damage, either through too hot/too fast drying or moisture…Read More
The idea that GMO-free foods are more "natural" than those with genetically modified ingredients is a misconception, says a plant biologist and advocate for genetic modification from the University of Florida. Speaking at the University of Manitoba last week, Kevin Folta discussed how transgenic (or GM) technology works and misunderstandings about genetically modified organisms. He... Read More
Even after the stresses of market crashes, unexpected weather events and disagreements in the workplace, there is a force that keeps so many of us involved in agriculture. Our passion can be driven by many factors: a love of the land, an appreciation for the outdoors, respect for flora and fauna or simply the hope... Read More