(Dave Bedard photo)

EU scientists say glyphosate unlikely to cause cancer

Brussels | Reuters — Glyphosate is unlikely to cause cancer in humans, according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which nevertheless proposed limits on Thursday on the amount of residue of the herbicide widely used by farmers deemed safe to consume. The EFSA advises EU policymakers and its conclusion could lead the 28-member European […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: CME cattle, hogs surge on bargain-buying after selloff

Chicago | Reuters — The Chicago Mercantile Exchange saw live cattle and feeder cattle futures bounce back strongly from contract lows on Wednesday, with prices hitting their daily limits as traders snapped up bargains and investors covering their short positions. Meanwhile, CME lean hog futures also saw a turnaround as traders bet that contract lows, […] Read more



(Alltech.com)

Alltech to buy up Canadian feed firm Masterfeeds

Animal nutrition firm Alltech is set to make itself one of Canada’s top animal food and livestock feed players, with a deal in hand to buy the stake in Masterfeeds it doesn’t already own. Alltech, a Lexington, Kentucky-based international firm in aggressive acquisition mode, announced Tuesday it will buy all outstanding shares of Masterfeeds, Inc. […] Read more


(PortSeattle.org)

Japan, White House rule out re-opening TPP pact

Reuters — Japan and the Obama administration on Tuesday rejected calls from some U.S. lawmakers to consider re-opening a Pacific trade deal and said any renegotiation attempt could scupper the whole pact. “Renegotiation is not an option,” Caroline Atkinson, Obama’s deputy national security adviser for international economics, said on a call hosted by the Atlantic […] Read more

Saskatchewan’s wheat and barley development commissions back research and market development work, supported by grower-funded levies. (Jack Dykinga photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Minogue: Campaigning heats up Sask. commodity board elections

Elections at the commodity association board level in Saskatchewan, often known for a landslide lack of interest, may get goosed this year with candidates investing bigger stakes in their campaigns. Ballots have been mailed out and board elections are now underway for the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission (SaskWheat) and the Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission (SaskBarley). […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Live cattle, feeders fall to contract lows on fund selling

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle and feeder cattle futures plunged to contract lows on Tuesday while lean hogs also extended recent losses, pulled down by ample supplies of animals for slaughter, and meat in storage. Expectations for lower cattle prices in cash markets also weighed. Live cattle and feeder cattle had declined by […] Read more



(Co-operator image by Shannon VanRaes)

MacAulay favours TPP deal, poised for trade fight with U.S.

Winnipeg | Reuters –– Canada’s new agriculture minister said Tuesday he likely will support the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiated by the previous government, and is inclined to retaliate against the U.S. over a long-standing meat-labeling dispute. The Liberal government, elected last month, has not taken a firm position yet on whether it will support TPP, which […] Read more

Agri-Trend CEO Rob Saik. (Jennifer Paige photo)

Trimble to buy consulting firm Agri-Trend

GPS and precision farming firm Trimble is set to buy the Canadian operator of North America’s largest network of independent agricultural consultants. Publicly traded, U.S.-based Trimble, which specializes in GPS and other location services, including the collection and management of on-farm data and services for precision farming, announced Tuesday it will buy Red Deer-based, privately-held […] Read more