The current neutral phase between La Niña and El Niño weather patterns is expected to continue for several months, with a 79 per cent chance of La Niña November through January, the National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center (CPC) said in its monthly forecast.

La Niña weather 70 per cent likely to develop in Aug-Oct

U.S. livestock: Hog futures close down the daily limit on oversupply
CME lean hog futures LHQ24 closed limit down on Wednesday as a hefty oversupply and weak demand from consumers dragged futures lower, traders said.

U.S. grains: Soy futures fall to 2020 low on strong US crop prospects
Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures fell to a 2020 low on Wednesday, while corn hovered near a four-year low as favorable U.S. crop conditions kept a lid on prices.

BASF to close two glufosinate production sites
BASF plans to shut down two sites in Germany that are part of its production network for the glufosinate-ammonium weed killer, the German chemicals group said on Wednesday.

Explainer: How U.S. states are testing for bird flu
States in the U.S. are playing a key role in the nation's response to a growing outbreak of avian flu among dairy cattle that has also infected a small number of humans.
The states are chiefly responsible for testing cows and people for the virus, but they take different approaches. Scientists tracking bird flu are increasingly concerned that current surveillance efforts are not sufficient.

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures lower on dip in consumer demand
CME live and feeder cattle futures turned lower on Tuesday as cutout values fell and consumer demand waned following the end of major steak-eating holidays, traders said.

U.S. grains: Wheat, corn recover after slide; soy hits 2020 low
Chicago wheat and corn futures ticked higher on Tuesday after sharp declines on Monday, while most-active soybean futures closed at their lowest point in nearly four years, as expectations of ample supplies from northern hemisphere harvests hung over the market.

Maple Leaf Foods plans to split into two independent public companies
Maple Leaf Foods is splitting into two independent public entities by spinning off its pork business, it said today.
Maple Leaf Foods will retain a 19.9 per cent ownership position in the newly formed pork company, the name of which will be announced in the coming months, the company said.

U.S. grains: Soybean, grain futures drop on expectation of positive crop report
Chicago Board of Trade soybeans and corn futures on Monday dropped to around the lowest prices in four years, as traders expected a positive picture of U.S. crop progress from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in a report due later in the day.

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures lower, hogs mostly down on demand questions
Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures turned lower on Monday, shedding a post-holiday rally on demand concerns and news that beef-loving Argentines are cutting back on buying steaks as the country's economy slumps.