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Feds Boost Canadian Seed Industry With $100,000 Investment to Promote Trade

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

Federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz announced Wednesday, a $100,000 investment for the Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA), to encourage trade.

It’s a timely announcement because the Harper government recently made a trade deal with the European Union, the biggest trade agreement in history.

“Canada's seed and grain industry plays an important role in creating jobs, increasing trade and keeping our economy strong,” Minister Ritz said in a release.

The funding will enable CSTA to focus on issues relating to the trade of seed and the regulatory process. The money is aimed at increasing the export sale market for Canadian growers.  

Currently, Canada is the fifth largest exporter of seed in the world. The government sees opportunity to expand trade and address trade barriers affecting the seed industry.

The CSTA’s mission is to advance trade and innovation. Its members are diverse, which range from market garden seed/herbs to large grain handlers. 


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The 12-day war between Iran-Israel came to an end sending crude oil futures plunging as the big fund speculators removed the war risk premium.

The weather risk premium in the Ag complex is sending corn, wheat and soybean futures lower on month-end selling ahead of the market moving USDA quarterly grain stocks and acreage reports on June 30th.

Instead, funds were chasing and sending tech stocks higher with the S&P 500/NASDAQ indexes setting new all-time record highs!

June 1 USDA Hogs and pigs report was slightly bearish while the U.S. $ Index traded to new contract lows as the de-dollarization that began in 2014 continues.

Feed in the form of soybean meal futures for livestock producers got cheaper, trading to new contract lows.

The Stats Canada seeded acreage update was bullish canola and wheat.