Russian wheat price may rise when tax removed

Moscow | Reuters — Russian wheat prices may rise in coming weeks when the government removes an export tax, set earlier this year to cool food inflation, SovEcon agriculture analysts said Thursday. Russia will take a decision by mid-May on removing the tax ahead of schedule and will set up a new mechanism in case […] Read more

(Syngenta.com)

Monsanto reported offering again to buy Syngenta

Reuters — Monsanto, the world’s largest seed company, has again approached Switzerland’s Syngenta in recent weeks with an offer to buy the company, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. However, the Swiss crop chemical maker has concerns, as the merger would raise antitrust issues, Bloomberg said. The two companies may again fail to […] Read more


EU lawmakers urge calorie content labels to cover alcohol

Brussels | Reuters — European beer, wine and spirits makers should inform consumers about the amount of calories in their drinks via clear labelling, EU lawmakers said Wednesday. Most foods and drinks are subject to legislation mandating labels with nutritional and ingredient information, but alcoholic drinks are exempt. The European Parliament voted in favour of […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

PotashCorp, Mosaic profits climb less than expected

Reuters — North America’s two biggest potash producers, PotashCorp and Mosaic Co., reported larger first-quarter profits on Thursday, but results missed expectations. Saskatoon-based PotashCorp, the world’s biggest fertilizer maker by market capitalization, cut its full-year profit forecast, and both companies warned potash prices could slide. Prices are yet to recover after a collapse in 2013, […] Read more



(University of California-Davis Olive Center photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

EU moves to stop spread of ‘olive tree leprosy’

Brussels | Reuters –– EU governments backed on Tuesday new measures to stop the spread of a bacterial disease that has attacked Italy’s olive oil production, the European Commission said. The new measures mean EU countries must reveal all outbreaks in the European Union, carry out official surveys and destroy all infested plants, as well […] Read more


EU lifts wheat, barley, rapeseed yield outlook

Paris | Reuters — The European Union’s crop monitoring service on Monday lifted its yield forecasts for this year’s soft wheat, barley and rapeseed harvests with growing conditions remaining mostly favourable despite a recent dry spell. Yields will stay below levels seen in 2014, when the EU posted record production in several crops, but exceed […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Owner of Tim Hortons, Burger King posts strong Q1

Reuters — Restaurant Brands International said on Monday its Burger King and Tim Hortons chains posted their strongest same-store sales performance in years in the first quarter, with customers lured in by popular menu items. The company’s stock rose more than three per cent in early trading but later pared gains. U.S. chain Burger King […] Read more