Paris | Reuters — Louis Dreyfus Co., one of the world’s biggest agricultural commodities houses, may consider selling a stake to a regional player to support its development although there are no specific plans to do so, the company said Friday. Agricultural commodities traders have been grappling with lower profits from sourcing and shipping commodities […] Read more
Louis Dreyfus could consider selling stake to regional player
Maple Leaf quarterly profit misses estimates as costs rise
Reuters — Packaged meat producer Maple Leaf Foods reported a lower-than-expected quarterly profit on Thursday, hit by higher costs as it invested more in new initiatives and capacity expansion. The company has been keen on expanding in the U.S., seeing growth opportunities in humanely raised animal products and alternative protein sources. In April, the company […] Read more
No fresh aid package for U.S. farmers planned for now, Perdue says
Washington | Reuters — The Trump administration does not have any active plans to provide more aid to farmers at the moment but can consider the option if the trade negotiations and weak commodity prices linger, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said on Tuesday. “We have been very clear to the agriculture community that […] Read more
Trump administration eyes more aid to farmers if necessary
Washington | Reuters — The Trump administration is ready to provide more federal aid to farmers if required, a White House adviser said on Monday, after rolling out up to US$12 billion since last year to offset agricultural losses from the trade dispute with China. “We have allocated $12 billion, some such, to farm assistance. […] Read more
Tyson sells stake in Beyond Meat
Reuters — Tyson Foods said on Wednesday it had sold its 6.5 per cent stake in vegan burger maker Beyond Meat, as the No. 1 U.S. meat processor looks to develop its own line of alternative protein products. The exit comes against the backdrop of rising tensions between the two companies after Tyson CEO Noel […] Read more
Ontario chamber makes recommendations to boost cannabis sector
Reuters –The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) on Thursday made several recommendations that address issues affecting the province’s booming marijuana industry, including having a common excise stamp to help cannabis makers ship their products smoothly. The industry body also recommended bolstering Health Canada, the country’s health regulator, so that it can issue licenses to facilities […] Read more
Campbell to sell Bolthouse Farms for US$510 million
Reuters — Campbell Soup Co. said on Friday it would sell its Bolthouse Farms business to an affiliate of private equity firm Butterfly Equity for US$510 million, in the U.S. food company’s first major sale as part of its plan to reduce debt. With the completion of deal, expected by July, Campbell will have divested […] Read more
Blizzard forces closure of some U.S. grain processors, elevators
Chicago | Reuters — A second “bomb cyclone” blizzard hitting the United States was limiting the movement and processing of corn, soybeans and wheat around the Midwest and Plains on Thursday. Grain trader Cargill said it was closing three of its grain handling facilities in Minnesota, two in South Dakota and one in Nebraska on […] Read more
Canada looks at fresh tariffs on U.S. goods
Ottawa | Reuters — Canada is looking at ways to boost the effectiveness of its retaliatory tariffs against the United States, Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Tuesday, but did not address remarks by a senior official who revealed what Ottawa might do. Canada imposed tariffs on $16.6 billion worth of U.S. exports in May […] Read more
Zimbabwe to start paying white farmers compensation after April
Harare | Reuters — Zimbabwe is to start paying compensation this year to thousands of white farmers who lost land under former president Robert Mugabe’s land reform nearly two decades ago, the government said, as it seeks to bring closure to a highly divisive issue. Two decades ago Mugabe’s government carried out at times violent […] Read more