The Elbe River at Oberrathen, southeast of Dresden. (CIA.gov)

Germany plans to toughen conditions for insecticide use

Berlin | Reuters — Germany plans to make it more difficult for farmers to use crop insecticides in a bid to preserve biodiversity, an environment ministry document showed. “Insect biomass has fallen by more than 75 per cent in the last 27 years in Germany,” according to the paper seen by Reuters on Wednesday, saying […] Read more



(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Profit-taking upends CME live cattle

Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle closed lower on Monday, pressured by profit-taking after three consecutive days of market advances, said traders. Worries about burdensome supplies in the coming weeks further weighed on live cattle futures, they said. “We’ve got a lot of cattle coming, but the market seems to be absorbing […] Read more

Southern Ontario wine grapes on the vine. (Dave Bedard photo)

World wine output falls to 60-year low

Paris | Reuters — Global wine output fell to its lowest level in 60 years in 2017 due to poor weather conditions in the European Union that slashed production in the bloc, international wine organization OIV said. Wine production totalled 250 million hectolitres last year, down 8.6 per cent from 2016, data from the Paris-based […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Cattle rise on strong cash markets

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures rose on Friday, with nearby contracts supported by firm cash markets and strong wholesale beef values, traders said. Deferred offerings rose as traders covered short positions ahead of the U.S. Agriculture Department’s monthly Cattle on Feed report. The report, released after the close of the […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures drop

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures dropped on Thursday on profit-taking and fund liquidation ahead of the U.S. Agriculture Department’s monthly Cattle on Feed report. Feeder cattle followed live cattle futures lower. Hog futures were mixed on bull spreading, with the front month contract rising in thin trading while deferreds weakened. […] Read more



(File photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Cattle, hog futures rise

Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures rose on Wednesday, supported by steady-to-higher early-week cash prices, traders said. Hogs drew support from higher cash and wholesale pork prices. Futures were further supported by lower week-over-week hog weights. It’s a “good sign that these weights are coming down,” said Dan Norcini, an independent […] Read more



The Elbe River at Oberrathen, southeast of Dresden. (CIA.gov)

Germany moving ahead with plans to restrict glyphosate

Berlin | Reuters — German Agriculture Minister Julia Kloeckner on Tuesday said she was finalizing a draft regulation to end use of glyphosate herbicide in household gardens, parks and sports facilities, and to set “massive” limits for its use in agriculture. The chemical, made by Monsanto, is at the centre of a heated debate in […] Read more