California tightens water regulations amid long drought

Sacramento | Reuters — Water regulators in California voted on Tuesday to outlaw watering the lawn within 48 hours of a rainstorm, the latest effort to spur Californians to conserve as the state enters its fourth year of drought. Facing a dramatic slowdown in voluntary conservation efforts by property owners, the state Water Resources Control […] Read more

Wayne Farms files for IPO

Reuters — Wayne Farms, the sixth-largest poultry producer in the U.S., has filed with U.S. regulators in an initial public offering of common stock. Wayne Farms is a subsidiary of Continental Grain, one of the largest privately-held corporations in the U.S. Citigroup, J.P. Morgan and BMO Capital Markets are underwriting the IPO, Wayne told the […] Read more






(JBSsa.com)

Australia clears JBS bid for pork firm Primo

Sydney | Reuters — Australian regulators have approved a bid by the U.S. arm of Brazilian beef giant JBS to acquire Australian Consolidated Food Holdings Pty. Ltd. (Primo) for an undisclosed sum, Treasurer Joe Hockey said on Wednesday. The approval by Australia’s Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB), subject to conditions at Primo’s abattoir, allows the […] Read more



(JBSsa.com)

JBS suspends IPO of processed foods unit, again

Rio de Janeiro | Reuters –– Brazilian meatpacker JBS SA said on Friday it was cancelling an initial public offering of its processed food unit JBS Foods due to unfavourable market conditions. This is the fourth time JBS, the world’s largest meatpacker, suspended plans for the IPO of JBS Foods. JBS said in a statement […] Read more


Brazil warns of fines for striking truckers

Brasilia | Reuters –– Brazil’s Justice Minister Jose Eduardo Cardozo said Thursday the government would impose fines of between 5,000 and 10,000 reais (C$2,167 to $4,334) per hour on striking truckers who have blocked roads in key agricultural states for nine days. The planned fines come a day after the government attempted to negotiate an […] Read more

(Stephen Ausmus photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

IGC sees smaller global wheat, corn crops in 2015-16

London | Reuters –– Global corn production is expected to fall by five per cent in 2015-16 from this season’s record level and the world wheat crop to decline by a more modest two per cent, the International Grains Council (IGC) forecast on Thursday. The intergovernmental body, in a monthly report, forecast global corn production […] Read more