Category: Agriculture

Emphasis on US exports, trade secrets in China trade deal

CanadianInvestor
Emphasis on US exports, trade secrets in China trade deal
WASHINGTON — The United States and China reached a trade deal Wednesday that eases tensions between the world’s two biggest economies, offers massive export opportunities for U.S. farms and factories, and promises to do more to protect American trade secrets. Still, the Phase 1 agreement leaves unresolved Washington’s fundamental differences with Beijing, which is relying on massive government intervention in... Read More

Business outlook survey suggests business confidence up, Prairies still weak

CanadianInvestor
Business outlook survey suggests business confidence up, Prairies still weak
OTTAWA — The Bank of Canada’s latest business outlook survey suggests business confidence has edged higher as global trade tensions have eased, but the Prairies continue to remain a weak spot. The survey, which is based on interviews with senior management at about 100 firms, says that outside of the energy-producing regions, reports of improved indicators of future sales are widespread.... Read More

Nutrien signs deal to buy Brazilian company Agrosema, terms not released

CanadianInvestor
Nutrien signs deal to buy Brazilian company Agrosema, terms not released
SASKATOON — Nutrien Ltd. says it has signed a deal to buy Brazilian company Agrosema Comercial Agricola Ltda. Financial terms of the deal were not immediately available. Nutrien says Agrosema has annual sales of roughly US$60 million across 12 farm centres with approximately 200 employees. The company says the acquisition complements its current retail operations in Brazil. Nutrien Ag Solutions... Read More

Grain backlog still looms large as CN returns to normal service after strike

CanadianInvestor
Grain backlog still looms large as CN returns to normal service after strike
MONTREAL — Canadian National Railway Co. says service is back to normal less than a month after a strike brought it to a screeching halt, but big grain backlogs remain a concern for Western farmers. “Back to normal shipping won’t clear up the backlog of over 10,000 cars that weren’t shipped during the strike,” said Todd Lewis, president of the... Read More

Saskatchewan projects $37-million surplus in mid-year fiscal update

CanadianInvestor
Saskatchewan projects $37-million surplus in mid-year fiscal update
REGINA — The Saskatchewan government’s mid-year fiscal update shows the province is still on track to finish in the black this fiscal year. The Ministry of Finance is forecasting a thin surplus of $37 million, which is slightly more than what was predicted in the spring budget. The government says revenue forecasts are about $329 million higher than budget, largely... Read More

Grain-growers cancel Ottawa plans as CN, union reach tentative agreement

CanadianInvestor
Grain-growers cancel Ottawa plans as CN, union reach tentative agreement
OTTAWA — Now that Canadian National Railway Co. has reached a tentative agreement with Teamsters Canada and the strike is set to end, Canadian farmers and producers cancelled their plans to descend on Ottawa to press for urgent action. The union says normal operations at CN will resume Wednesday at 6 a.m. local time across Canada. Grain growers had been... Read More

CN strike prompts potash mine shutdown, triggering 550 temporary layoffs

CanadianInvestor
CN strike prompts potash mine shutdown, triggering 550 temporary layoffs
SASKATOON — Nutrien Ltd. says it is temporarily shutting down its largest potash mine because of the strike at Canadian National Railway Co., resulting in some 550 short-term layoffs at the fertilizer giant. Nutrien chief executive Chuck Magro says workers received notices today alerting them that the mine in southeastern Saskatchewan will halt operations for two weeks starting Dec. 2. The vast... Read More

Grain shippers worried about strike as feds urge CN and union to continue talks

CanadianInvestor
Grain shippers worried about strike as feds urge CN and union to continue talks
MONTREAL — Grain shippers are concerned about the impact of a strike by about 3,200 Canadian National Railway Co. workers in an already tough harvest year. The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference announced the work stoppage Monday night after the two parties failed to reach a deal by the midnight deadline. Conductors, trainpersons and yard workers were on the picket lines, halting freight trains... Read More

Saskatchewan plans to open new trade offices as part of plan to grow province

CanadianInvestor
Saskatchewan plans to open new trade offices as part of plan to grow province
SASKATOON — The Saskatchewan government is announcing plans to open trade offices in Japan, India and Singapore. The province hopes doing so will strengthen trade relationships and increase the shipment of exports. The trade offices are part of Premier Scott Moe’s plan to increase the province’s population to 1.4 million by 2030 from the current 1.1 million. Growing the province was highlighted as a priority... Read More