Asuncion| Reuters — South American trade bloc Mercosur formally launched discussions for a trade deal with Canada on Friday, in a move officials said would signal an embrace of free trade at a time other countries are moving toward protectionist policies. For Canada, the talks with the group, which includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, […] Read more
Trade bloc Mercosur, Canada launch talks for trade deal
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle down, but off seven-week lows
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle slid to a seven-week bottom on Thursday, led by fund liquidation, traders said. Futures’ discount to this week’s slaughter-ready, or cash, cattle prices freed contracts from session lows, they said. April closed 1.2 cents/lb. at 121.775 cents (all figures US$). June finished 1.55 cents lower at […] Read more
Smucker seen considering sale for Robin Hood, other baking brands
Reuters — J.M. Smucker is considering a sale of its baking brands, including Pillsbury and Robin Hood, Bloomberg reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. The unit could fetch as much as US$700 million (C$902.4 million), Bloomberg reported, citing one of the sources. A final decision to pursue a sale has not been […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Trade war jitters drag on CME hogs
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures on Wednesday hit a three-month low, partly rattled by talk of a potential trade war if the U.S. tacks higher tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, traders said. Wednesday’s U.S. stock market slumped as U.S. President Donald Trump appears poised to impose steep tariffs this […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Pork demand, wintry weather boost CME hogs
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures rose for a second straight session on Monday, driven by improved wholesale pork prices and a winter storm churning in parts of the upper western Corn Belt, said traders. April hogs closed 1.225 cents/lb. higher at 68.8 cents, and May finished 1.1 cents higher at […] Read more
Pot firm Aurora’s CanniMed deal gets regulatory nod
Reuters — Canada’s No. 2 marijuana producer Aurora Cannabis on Wednesday received final regulatory approval for the purchase of smaller rival CanniMed Therapeutics, which would make it the world’s most valuable weed producer. The approval of the $1.1 billion deal from the Competition Bureau follows months of tensions between the companies and comes at a […] Read more
India to double state purchases of oilseeds, pulses
New Delhi | Reuters — India’s cabinet approved on Wednesday doubling state purchases of oilseeds and pulses from farmers, in a bid to boost local output and prevent distressed sales. The amount that state agencies guarantee to buy at pre-set prices will double to 190 billion rupees (C$3.7 billion) for a five-year period ending in […] Read more
Norway to upgrade ‘doomsday’ seed vault
Oslo | Reuters — Norway plans to spend 100 million Norwegian crowns (C$16.1 million) to upgrade a doomsday seed vault on an Arctic island built 10 years ago to protect the world’s food supplies, the government said on Friday. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is meant as a natural deep freeze to back up the […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle extend losses
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle on Thursday lost ground for a second day in a row, weighed down by lower cash prices and an increased supply outlook, traders said. They said sell stops and fund liquidation contributed to market declines. Some investors adjusted positions before the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) […] Read more
KFC closes most U.K. stores due to chicken shortage
London | Reuters — Fast-food chain KFC said on Monday it had been forced to close hundreds of its British stores because of a shortage of chicken. The problem arose at the weekend after the chain switched its delivery contract to DHL, forcing the majority of its 900 outlets in Britain to shut. “We’ve brought […] Read more
Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field
