Chicago | Reuters — More than 15,000 mink in the United States have died of the coronavirus since August, and authorities are keeping about a dozen farms under quarantine while they investigate the cases, state agriculture officials said. Global health officials are eying the animals as a potential risk for people after Denmark last week […] Read more
Coronavirus kills 15,000 U.S. mink
Affected states aren't planning to cull
U.S. grains: Soybean futures surge again to new four-year high
USDA cuts corn, soybean yield estimates
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures soared to a fresh four-year high on Tuesday and corn topped a one-year high after the U.S. Department of Agriculture said stockpiles this marketing year will fall to their smallest in seven years. The forecasts, issued in a monthly crop report, reflected a decline in […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Feeder cattle futures slump as corn prices surge
Hogs down off Monday's gains
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. feeder cattle futures ended lower on Tuesday after nearing a six-week high as soaring corn prices signaled that feed costs will increase. Live cattle futures finished near unchanged after setting a fresh four-week high, and lean hog futures weakened. Rising crop prices hung over the markets after the U.S. Department […] Read more
New rail speed limits to be based on temperatures
Railways wanting to run under new limits must develop winter operation plans
Given the odds of weird temperature swings happening somewhere in Canada at any time of year, railways will now instead be required to slow their trains’ speeds based on how cold it is outside at the time, rather than a date range. Federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau on Friday announced a new ministerial order meant […] Read more
CBOT weekly outlook: Bullish USDA report sends soy, corn up sharply
MarketsFarm — Soybean and corn yields in the United States ended up much smaller than early expectations, according to updated supply and demand estimates released Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The resulting drop in production and ending stocks has sent futures rallying to new contract highs, with more gains likely. Average U.S. soybean […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market experiencing bottoming behaviour
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were down $4-$6 on average; however, mid-weight and lighter calves traded $4 lower to as much as $8 higher. The market was extremely variable for calves. Early in the week, prices in the Lethbridge area were actually $10 above values from seven days earlier but this faded […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle futures surge on COVID-19 vaccine progress
USDA expected to trim estimates for feed crops
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures reached a four-week high on Monday and feeder cattle hit their highest prices in more than five weeks as progress toward a COVID-19 vaccine raised hopes for a quick economic recovery from the pandemic and increased beef demand. Lean hog futures also finished firmer. Commodity and equity […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Export demand supports lentils
India set to extend current tariff reductions
MarketsFarm — Lentil prices in Western Canada saw a counter-seasonal rally at the end of harvest and are likely to sustain that rally into winter. “Prices are going to keep going higher,” Darcy Barie, a commodity buyer with Verdient Foods at Vanscoy, Sask., said. Ahead of the 2020 harvest, red lentils were around 24 cents/lb. […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soy futures touch new four-year top
Pfizer update on COVID vaccine sends shares, oil higher
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures reached a new four-year high on Monday as the first successful data from a late-stage COVID-19 vaccine trial fueled hopes of the economy recovering quickly from the pandemic-driven crisis. Broad optimism about Pfizer’s vaccine trials added support to a soybean market already buoyed by strong Chinese demand and […] Read more
McDonald’s to make its own ‘McPlant’ items
Beyond Meat says co-created patty
Reuters — Burger chain McDonald’s on Monday decided to debut its own plant-based meat alternatives line called “McPlant” in 2021, including a patty that Beyond Meat subsequently said it helped co-create. “Beyond Meat and McDonald’s co-created the plant-based patty which will be available as part of their McPlant platform,” a Beyond Meat spokesperson said in […] Read more
Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field
