Although the majority of recent NAFTA 2.0 talks have been focused on Canada’s dairy farmers, the pork industry is feeling the pinch when it comes to prices. As the Canadian Pork Council (CPC) points out in a recent news release, pigs are being sold at prices 30 per cent lower than this time last year,… Read more »
Category: United States
Trump threatens tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods, citing protection of farmers
In a move most knew was on the way, American President Donald Trump plans to impose tariffs on $200 billion more of Chinese goods as of next Monday. A news release says he’s imposing the new tariffs, “to protect the interest of working men and women, farmers, ranchers, businesses, and our country itself.” Announced September… Read more »
Canada’s NAFTA hopes now rest with America’s congress
As the saying goes, what goes around comes around, and never has that been so true perhaps than with politics and current trade talks. Early in the NAFTA 2.0 negotiations the Team Canada approach was to penetrate the U.S. political system at all levels with its NAFTA lobbying. Whether it was governors, U.S. senators, or… Read more »
U.S. announces direct payment details in $12 billion trade aid package
The U.S. government announced details of its $12 billion trade aid package on Monday, including nearly $4.7 billion in direct payments to American farmers based on their 2018 production. Direct payments Initial payments will be available on corn, cotton, dairy, hog, sorghum, soybean, and wheat starting September 4. “Early on, the President instructed me, as… Read more »
Understanding the legal implications of the California jury decision on glyphosate
Glyphosate — commonly known as Roundup — suffered a blow in the court of public opinion following a California jury decision last week, but the actual legal implications of the verdict are still to be determined in court. The jury found Monsanto liable in a case where former school groundskeeper Dewayne Johnson alleges exposure to… Read more »
“It’s astronomically impossible to expect zero ag subsidies in the EU”
The European Union looking to mend fences with the Trump administration could have a major impact on agriculture, as the U.S. looks for a win with one of its trading partners. The EU/U.S. trade front is one that Canadians should pay particularly close attention to as we already have preferential market access over the U.S…. Read more »
Tight steel supplies, added tariffs may drive up ag equipment prices
As steel and aluminum tariffs continue to loom in Canada from the United States, many in the ag industry wonder how the high prices will impact the cost of machinery in the future. President of Hi-Tec Profiles, Trent Meyer, says the cost of steel was already on the rise prior to President Donald Trump imposing… Read more »
Morris debuts Quantum drill with new frame design and 76% fewer parts
Saskatchewan-based farm equipment manufacturer Morris Industries rolled out a brand new air drill design at Canada’s Farm Progress Show at Regina last month. The Quantum air drill features a stronger, simpler frame design, a new air system, and more row spacing options than previous models, according to the company. “We’ve thought about this product from the perspective… Read more »
Kentucky looks longingly across the fence at Ontario
Even though Kentucky’s first-ever agricultural trade mission was eight months in the making, no one would have blamed the state’s trade commission for delaying last week’s five-day trek to Ontario until the air cleared of anti-Canadian rhetoric from U.S. President Donald Trump. After all, not only are trade tensions high, but Kentucky is as pro-Trump… Read more »
Canada-U.S. trade friction around dairy escalates following G7 meeting
What exactly was said behind closed doors we may never know, but shortly after the G7 meeting held at Charlevoix, Quebec, both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Donald Trump made very public statements signalling an escalation of trade friction between the two countries. Trump’s annoyance with Canada’s supply management system (at least when… Read more »
Weather and geopolitical risk —This week in the grain markets
Except for wheat, grain markets this week trended mostly lower. The oilseed complex saw a significant sell-off as the start to the U.S. growing season has been good. Further, there haven’t been any noticeable discussion between the U.S. and China regarding trade. The market is interpreting this as bearish for soybeans. Next week Tuesday, June… Read more »
The small world of ag: U.S. ag secretary tweets t-shirt photo quoting Sask. dairy farmer
It’s funny how word travels in today’s social media world. Someone shares a photo or message on Twitter or Facebook and it can be instantly seen around the world. If shared publicly, you never know who’s going to see or react to what you posted. Take, for example, this tweet by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture… Read more »
TechTour: Culti Cam system offers automatic cultivator positioning in row crops
In another move towards automation, Claas has unveiled a system for automatic steering of cultivators in row crops. The Culti Cam uses a high-resolution camera to detect rows, and then adjusts the position of the implement, centring it between rows, independent from the tractor’s steering. Using colour and 3D surface information, Claas says the camera software… Read more »
Where are these nitrogen-fixing cereals, already?
In 2013-14, the idea of nitrogen-fixing, non-leguminous crops hit the media big-time. UK-based Azotic Technologies was one of the companies making bold predictions, including that it expected to offer its commercial natural nitrogen-fixing technology, N-Fix, in two to three years. It’s been five. So, where is it? In 2014, we spoke to David Dent, director with… Read more »
Beef Market Update: Record basis levels set to change
The beef markets are riding an unusually high basis in both Canada and the United States, but that’s set to change. “So over the next eight weeks — between now and when June goes off — we will see the two converge,” says Gateway Livestock’s Anne Wasko, adding that in 2015 basis was +20 when… Read more »