Ottawa | Reuters — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is pushing ahead with a vaccine mandate for international truckers despite increasing pressure from critics who say it will exacerbate driver shortages and drive up the price of goods imported from the United States. Canada will require all truckers entering from the U.S. to show proof […] Read more

Canada resists pressure to drop vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers

China, Philippines suspend beef imports from Canada on BSE case
Winnipeg | Reuters –– China and the Philippines have suspended imports of Canadian beef due to Canada’s detection in December of a cow infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), a spokesperson for Canada’s agriculture department said on Monday. The moves follow an import suspension by South Korea last month, after Canada reported its first BSE […] Read more

Funds holding record-large net long position in canola
MarketsFarm — Fund traders remain bullish in the canola market, growing their net long position to a new record in the latest Commitment of Traders report compiled by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Managed money fund traders were holding a net long position in ICE Futures canola of 68,140 contracts as of Jan. […] Read more

La Niña introduces itself with Prairie cold snap
MarketsFarm — The frigid conditions which had enveloped the Prairie provinces in recent weeks is a sign La Niña has come again, according to a Kansas-based meteorologist. Since mid-December, the Prairies have been in a deep freeze beginning with temperatures at least 10 C below-normal. Since the holiday season, many towns and cities in the […] Read more

Fertilizer prices to remain high for now
MarketsFarm — There are two factors to consider when it comes to fertilizer. One is the cost as it’s to remain quite expensive at least through the first quarter of 2022, according to Chris Lawson, head of fertilizers for the CRU Group. The other is its availability, said Todd Lewis, president of the Agricultural Producers […] Read more

Swine fever found in wild boar in Italy
Reuters — African swine fever, a deadly hog disease, has been found in a wild boar in Italy’s Piedmont region, the regional government said in a statement on Friday. Tests confirmed the disease in a dead boar in Ovada, located about 120 km southwest of Milan in northern Italy, the statement said. African swine fever […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soybeans rally, following soymeal gains
Wheat capped by big Argentina, Australia crops
Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago soybean futures rallied on Friday, supported by soymeal demand and weather issues in South America. Corn followed higher, although crops in Argentina and Brazil are likely less impacted by drought in the region as they have more time to benefit from rainfall expected later this month. Wheat rebounded from a […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle, lean hogs fall on weaker slaughter
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle and lean hog futures fell on Friday as sluggish slaughter rates continue to drag on prices, traders said. “They’re both facing the same fundamental music – this slaughter disruption due to weather, labour tightness and COVID,” said Dennis Smith, commodity broker at Archer Financial. CME February […] Read more

GM to chase rivals with US$105,000 electric Silverado
Less expensive retail Silverado EV to follow in 2024
Detroit | Reuters — General Motors’ US$35 billion electric vehicle strategy will face its biggest test in 2023 when it launches an electric version of its Chevrolet Silverado pickup with a six-figure price tag, more than a year after rivals Ford and Rivian Automotive. GM CEO Mary Barra on Wednesday told the annual CES technology […] Read more

Feed weekly outlook: Feedlots, elevators filled with corn
MarketsFarm — As 2022 begins, feed grain markets in Alberta have been “status quo,” according to a grain buyer. “There’s a lot of grain that has been pre-contracted in terms of corn coming in from the United States,” said Brandon Motz of CorNine Commodities at Lacombe, Alta. “Lots of priority has been towards execution, making […] Read more