Machinery Talk (39)

Corteva separating into two entities

Corteva says it will separate its seed and pesticide businesses into separate listed companies, as the agrichemicals firm seeks to sharpen its strategic focus. The separation will allow each company to set specific capital allocation strategies, respond faster to market shifts and pursue growth opportunities independently. Its shares fell about seven per cent to their lowest in nearly five months.  The stock has fallen more than 14 per cent since the Wall Street Journal reported the company’s spin-off plans last month, as analysts raised concerns about disruption and dilution. The company has estimated added costs from splitting the company, of $80 million-$100 million US. Corteva’s seed business accounted for 57 per cent of its total sales in 2024, with remaining coming from its other segment, which produces herbicides, fungicides, insecticides and seed treatments.

Why Maizex is Bringing Canola to Alberta

Alberta trials are underway as Maizex prepares to offer booking for 2026. If you told me a few years ago that Maizex would be moving into canola, I might’ve called you optimistic. But here we are. After nearly four decades in Canadian agriculture and a strong national footprint in corn and soybean genetics, Maizex Seeds is officially entering the canola market — and yes, Alberta farmers, that means you. This move didn’t happen overnight. It’s been a multi-year process of strategy, scouting, and listening. Listening to farmers. Listening to dealers. And listening to what the canola market still needs — especially in the West. We’re launching our first two Maizex-branded canola hybrids for planting in 2026, and we’re excited to finally talk about it. This isn’t just about entering a new crop category. It’s about bringing a Canadian-owned alternative to the table — one focused on farmer-first service and choice in a market that, frankly, could use more of both. As I’m writing this, I’

World Food Commodity Prices Down Slightly in September

World food commodity prices fell slightly in September, as a new high in meat values was offset by month-over-month declines in most other categories, including both cereals and vegetable oils. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on Friday reported that its food price index – which measures the monthly changes in the international prices of a set of globally-traded food commodities – averaged 128.8 points in September. That is down slightly from the revised August level of 129.7 points but still 3.4% above the same month last year. The FAO cereal price index slipped 0.6% from August, averaging 105 points. World wheat prices fell for the third straight month as large harvests in Russia, Europe and North America, combined with weak demand, kept values under pressure. Corn also declined on forecasts of abundant supplies from Brazil and the US, while Argentina’s temporary suspension of grain export taxes added further downward pressure. Barley and sorghum bucked

Alberta Harvest Enters Final Stretch

The Alberta major crop harvest is into the homestretch. Friday’s provincial crop report showed the harvest of major crops (spring wheat, oats, barley, canola, and dry peas) at 89% complete as of Tuesday, up 12 points from a week earlier and ahead of the five- and 10-year averages of 82% and 65%. The Peace Region was leading harvest progress at 93% done as of Tuesday, followed by the South at 91%, the North West at 90% and the North East at 90%. The Central is bringing up the rear at 84% complete. “With regional harvest progress ahead of or near to historical five-year averages, producers remain on track to complete harvest in the next few weeks,” the report said. Provincial cereal crops are essentially finished. Spring wheat and barley are both 96% harvested, comfortably ahead of their five-year averages of 89% and 91% respectively. Oats are at 91% complete, far exceeding the 74% norm. With cereals wrapped up, the focus has turned to canola, where rapid progress this past week

Sowing Solutions--Guelph’s Agri-Food Research Gets Federal Spotlight

The Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, joined Guelph MP Dominique O’Rourke for a day of discovery at the University of Guelph.