With the European Union granting its conditional approval in late March, and U.S. antitrust authorities reportedly set to give their thumbs-up signal, Canada's competition regulator has yet to issue its decision on Bayer's proposed acquisition of Monsanto. The US$66 billion deal, which was originally announced in September 2016, has significant implications in the Canadian market,... Read More
Category: Western Canada
It's been a difficult — if not devastating — start to the year for many in the agricultural community. And just when areas of North America were finally seeing a respite, and what could possibly have been called spring-like conditions, we're hit with another round of ice pellets, freezing rain, rain, and/or snow. For ranchers,... Read More
Update, as of Wednesday: Both unions have served CP Rail with 72-hour strike notice, clearing the way for a strike to begin after midnight on Saturday morning. When asked on Tuesday whether the federal government would consider back-to-work legislation, Transport Minister Marc Garneau said he's following the situation closely: "Remember that we are a party... Read More
Are you willing to change your mind when you discuss agriculture and food issues with people who don't agree with your point of view? On some level, most people in agriculture engage in conversations with family, friends, and colleagues on a range of issues – everything from conventional versus organic agriculture, to the right to... Read More
Farm equipment maker Elmer's Manufacturing has announced a deal to acquire another southern Manitoba-based manufacturer, adding rotary ditching equipment to the Elmer's product lineup. Elmer's has reached an agreement to acquire 100 percent of Dynamic Ditchers Inc., the makers of the Wolverine Extreme Rotary Ditcher. Production will be moved from Dynamic's location near Dugald, Man.... Read More
The third year of Monsanto BioAg’s BioAdvantage Trials (BAT) wrapped up with a morning event that had co-operators, agronomists, and reps feeling optimistic for the growing season to come. The event was held in Saskatoon, the home of partner brand Novozymes’ headquarters and a hub for Western Canadian Ag. The event would update attendees on... Read More
Grain markets were volatile this week with prices flip-flopping on what was more concerning — geopolitical risk or weather. Much less concerning were most of the largely market-anticipated USDA numbers. Some notable data-points from this week's WASDE (World Agricultural Supply and Demands Estimates): Russia’s wheat exports raised by 1 MMT to 38.5 million (a record);... Read More
News of Canada, Mexico, and the United States possibly reaching an agreement-in-principle in North American Free Trade Agreement negotiations in the next few weeks is creating optimism in Mexico. "The whole issue has gotten lots of attention lately," says José Díaz-Briseño, the U.S.-Mexico correspondent for the Mexico City-based Reforma newspaper, in the following interview. Earlier... Read More
As planting decisions are finalized, the risk of iron deficiency chlorosis (IDC) is one of the factors soybean growers in Western Canada and the Northern Plains are keeping in mind after unprecedented yellowing due to IDC in many areas last year. A wet 2016 growing season followed by a dry start to 2017, left elevated…Read More
Look for more Canadian milk to be passing though Kiwi-made milking parlours in the years ahead. That's according to New Zealand-based Waikato Milking Systems' CEO Dean Bell, who brought his company to Stratford, ON, this month to exhibit for the first time at the Canadian Dairy XPO. The New Zealand dairy industry currently supplies one-third... Read More