Grain markets headed into the Easter holiday weekend on a bit more volatility, helping most futures stay in the green. Oats were the big winner, rebounding up 4.15% since last Friday, closely followed by 3.5% and 3.15% by soymeal and corn respectively. The U.S. dollar was the big loser of the week, down 0.6%, which supported… Read more »
Category: Farm Travel
Africa’s Farmers Need Investment to Feed Africa
Globally, the big question in food production – the one that reverberates in any discussion about the future – is who will feed the increasingly hungry world, and how. Most of the focus is on Africa, and the growing population there. So the question goes: Who will feed Africa? Well, after spending two weeks with… Read more »
Real AgVentures – Swimming Pigs: They’re Bringing Home the Bacon
[GREAT EXUMA, THE BAHAMAS] – Farmers everywhere – including the Bahamas — used to get in and out of pigs relatively quickly. It’s not really like that anymore, as farming has become more sophisticated. But back then, when prices went up, herds grew quickly. When prices went down, herds shrunk about as fast. And so… Read more »
Remembering Canada Fondly: A Conversations with Hartmut van Lengerich
Shaun Haney is in Germany this week as a guest of Bayer, celebrating 20 years of the company’s InVigor brand. The world is big place, sure, but when it comes to agriculture, it’s actually quite small. As people move up the ladder within companies, they frequently get to spend time in other countries to build experience. … Read more »
BayKomm Shows Us How Science Can Be Cool
Shaun Haney is in Germany this week as a guest of Bayer, celebrating 20 years of the company’s Invigor brand. This morning, I visited the BayKomm site in Leverkusen, Germany. The beautiful glass building holds not only some historical pieces from Bayer’s past but also a connection to the difference science makes on our daily… Read more »
Why is Bayer Acquiring Monsanto?
Shaun Haney is in Germany this week as a guest of Bayer, celebrating 20 years of the company’s Invigor brand. During the Bayer InVigor 20th anniversary party we heard an address by Liam Condon, Bayer Crop Science CEO. He was fresh off a flight from Chicago where he was working on the acquisition of Monsanto…. Read more »
Cuban Farmers Deserve Change in a Post-Fidel Era
Through the years, Cuban farmers – or at least those whose families didn’t have their farm estates or agri-businesses seized when Fidel Castro came into power — have been living in a bubble. They’ve been loyal subjects to their political leader, the long-time dictator who died last week, almost six months after his 90th birthday…. Read more »
Empower Farmers by Making Credit Available: A World Food Day Lesson
World anything Day is a lot to take in. You’d think it might be easier to digest when a designated day for something global was also for something so familiar as food. But I didn’t sense that with World Food Day, which arrived and passed Sunday without much fanfare, at least in North America. Why’s… Read more »
A Tale of Two German Dairy Farmers, Making a Buck When They’re Down on Their Luck
The chips are down for milk producers in Europe, who are struggling to hang on as the continent deals with another milk glut. The European Union dropped its quota on milk production last year. When that happened, dairy producers upped their production. Now, Europe is swimming in the stuff. Farmers say they’re getting about 10… Read more »
Saik’s Agri-Treks: Cornell University’s Gene Gun and Plant Breeding Labs
The gene gun, the first of which literally used a .22-calibre bullet, was invented by plant geneticists working at Cornell University in the 1980s as a way of injecting DNA into plant cells. The technology made the process of introducing new genetic material to many major crops, including corn and wheat, much more efficient, helping to create plants with resistance… Read more »
What Are Your Vacation Plans in the Next 12 Months?
Success in agriculture requires a lot of commitment, and it can often feel as though all we do is work. But part of achieving success is being able to get a way from it all — taking a break to refresh your brain and attempt to achieve balance in your life. Related: No Time or Not… Read more »
Western Grains Research Foundation and Farm Credit Canada Partnering With Nuffield Canada
Nuffield Canada has announced two new partners coming on board with funding for the agriculture leadership development program in 2016. The Western Grains Research Foundation will be sponsoring a new scholarship for individuals looking to build their understanding of agriculture through international studies. The funding will be available to scholars directly involved in the Western Canadian… Read more »
Learning from Overseas Buyers of Canadian Wheat & Durum — a Saskatchewan Farmer’s Perspective
Quality and consistency. That’s what international buyers expect with Canadian wheat. It’s been said a thousand times already, but if you ask Saskatchewan farmer Gerrid Gust what his take-home message was after visiting customers in North Africa and the Middle East, he can’t help but emphasize the importance of maintaining Canada’s reputation for quality and… Read more »
Women Take Charge in Agricultural Co-op Café Femenino
Women are looking for new opportunities in agriculture – in production, leadership and business, among them. When this search extends beyond Canada’s borders, the commodities may change. But the principles are the same, including equality, participation and recognition. Take Peru, for example, where coffee is a very popular commodity. Coffee production there everywhere else is… Read more »
TWORA — Agritechnica, Agri-Trend and the Start of Ag Show Season — Nov 12
From Agri-Trade to Agritechnica, Red Deer to Hanover, farm show season has started. This week’s TWORA podcast takes us to Germany for the world’s largest farm equipment show, along with the latest news highlights: Agri-Trend’s sale to Trimble, All-Tech acquiring Masterfeeds, the launch of the “International Year of Pulses” and more: Subscribe: iTunes | Android… Read more »