Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures fell on Monday, pressured by a softening in seasonal demand and the continued impact from backlogs at slaughterhouses, traders said. Lean hogs also eased on profit taking, while feeder cattle also followed live cattle for a loss. CME October live cattle futures fell 1.525 cents, to 108.35 […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Futures slip on seasonal pressure
Slaughter backlogs remain a drag on live cattle

Federal fund, Alberta government back irrigation upgrades
Infrastructure Bank lends cash for system improvements
Eight irrigation districts in Alberta are set to tap into the Canada Infrastructure Bank’s new $1.5 billion pool of funding earmarked for irrigation, to receive loans worth about $407.5 million. The Alberta and federal governments on Friday announced a total investment of $815 million — including repayable CIB funds, provincial support and irrigation district contributions […] Read more

Becel maker Upfield to relocate Ontario plant
Company to make vegan cheese substitutes, other spreads at Brantford
The maker of Becel margarine, Imperial spreads and, most recently, vegan near-cheese Violife plans to boost its Canadian manufacturing capacity with a move from Toronto to Brantford, Ont. The Canadian arm of Amsterdam-based Upfield said Wednesday it has bought a 164,000-square foot industrial building at Brantford and “brings a significant investment involving the purchase of […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Domestic demand boosts hog futures
Feed grain prices drag on feeder cattle
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. hog futures leapt to their highest price since May 2019 on Friday on strong domestic demand for pork, while feeder cattle futures tumbled to a three-month low. Gains in the swine market extend a rally driven by rising cash prices for hogs and demand from consumers. “Domestic demand has been […] Read more

Argentina approves drought-tolerant GM wheat
Variety would need Brazil approval before going commercial
MarketsFarm — Argentina has become the first country in the world to approve cultivation and consumption of a genetically modified wheat variety, the country’s National Commission for Science and Technology (CONICET) announced Thursday. “This is the first approval in the world for drought-tolerant genetic transformation in wheat,” CONICET said in a statement. Argentina is the […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soybean futures hit 2018 highs as supplies tighten
USDA cuts domestic soy ending stocks; traders expect more demand from China
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures surged to their highest prices since March 2018 after the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Friday said inventories will dwindle to a five-year low. Corn futures advanced to a one-year high, while wheat futures slumped in a setback from a five-year high reached on Thursday. […] Read more

USDA’s WASDE bullish for soy, corn, wheat
MarketsFarm — The October world agricultural supply and demand estimates (WASDE) from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) shows lower U.S. ending stocks for soybeans, corn and wheat. Projected U.S. soybean ending stocks for 2020-21 were lowered to 290 million bushels from last month’s projection of 460 million. Last year, carryout stocks were at 523 […] Read more

Feed weekly outlook: Demand from China lifts prices
MarketsFarm — Prices for feed barley and wheat have shot up over the last month, including a 76 cent per bushel jump for barley in Alberta, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire. In Saskatchewan, barley prices climbed 41 cents per bushel, while in Manitoba the rise has been much more subdued at nine cents. At present […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Hog futures hit highest since August 2019
U.S. beef export sales down on week
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. hog futures rose to their highest in more than a year on Thursday, as consumer demand for pork remained robust even as the weather turned cooler. The front-month hog contract has risen for seven days in a row. “The domestic demand is just on fire,” said Don Roose, analyst with […] Read more

U.S. grains: CBOT wheat falls after hitting highest since 2015
Chicago corn, soybean futures ease
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures dropped 1.9 per cent on Thursday, falling from their highest in more than five years, as traders locked in profits ahead of a key U.S. government report. Soybeans and corn also eased from recent peaks but losses were kept in check by strong export demand. […] Read more