Alfalfa looper larva. (CanolaCouncil.org)

U.S. to ban use of chlorpyrifos on food crops

Cancellation already scheduled for most outdoor use in Canada

UPDATED, Aug. 25 –– Chicago | Reuters — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday said it will ban the use on food crops of chlorpyrifos insecticide, which has been linked to health problems in children. The decision is a victory for environmental activists who have fought to stop the use of the chemical that […] Read more

CBOT September 2021 wheat (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat tumbles on profit-taking off eight-year high

Chicago corn, soy follow

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures fell more than three per cent on Tuesday in a profit-taking setback after the most-active contract reached an 8-1/2-year high last week, traders said. Corn and soybean futures followed wheat lower, with soybeans retreating from early advances despite fresh export sales of U.S. soy. Chicago Board of Trade […] Read more


CBOT September 2021 wheat (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, orange and green lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat ends mixed, near 8-1/2-year high

Pro Farmer corn, soy tour begins in U.S.

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures took a breather on Monday after setting 8-1/2-year highs last week on concerns about tightening supplies in exporting countries hit by harsh weather. Russian agriculture consultancy Sovecon trimmed its forecast for Russia’s crop by 0.3 per cent from last week in the latest estimated reduction […] Read more

Photo: File

U.S. livestock: CME cattle futures rise after U.S. cuts beef production forecasts

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures rose on Thursday as the U.S. Department of Agriculture reduced its forecasts for domestic beef production. The agency, in a monthly report, trimmed its estimate for 2021 U.S. beef production by 0.1 percent from July to 26.965 billion pounds due to lighter expected carcass weights. The production forecast […] Read more


Photo: Getty Images

U.S. grains: CBOT wheat hits three-month high as U.S. cuts global crop

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures climbed to a three-month high on Thursday after the U.S. Department of Agriculture slashed production estimates in exporting countries. Corn futures set a one-month high on a smaller-than-expected U.S. yield forecast in a USDA crop report that fueled concerns about tightening global grain supplies due to harsh […] Read more

Photo: Thinkstock

U.S. grains: CBOT wheat stabilizes after rally as traders await U.S. crop data

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures stabilized on Wednesday as traders adjusted positions ahead of a U.S. government crop report, a day after prices jumped on concerns about tightening global inventories. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is set to issue an update on global grain supplies and demand in a monthly report on […] Read more


Cash cattle trades have declined by about 30 per cent since 2005.

U.S. to expand cattle sales data after complaints from ranchers, Congress

Reuters – The U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Thursday it will begin releasing two new reports on cattle sales next week, after ranchers and members of Congress raised concerns about possible anti-competitive behaviour in the market. The reports follow a July executive order from President Joe Biden that calls for the federal government to promote competition […] Read more

“The emergence of ASF in the Dominican Republic underscores the need for continued and strengthened vigilance to prevent the spread of ASF to other regions.” – CFIA.  Photo: iStock/Getty Images Plus

Dominican Republic restricts pig shipments after ASF confirmed

Reuters – The Dominican Republic is restricting pig shipments and mobilizing the military to contain the spread of African swine fever (ASF), the agriculture ministry said July 29, as the United States and Mexico tightened border checks to avoid infections. In an official statement July 29, Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) also said it was […] Read more



Photo: ARS/USDA

African swine fever confirmed in Dominican Republic pigs: USDA

Chicago | Reuters – The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed the deadly hog virus African swine fever in samples from pigs in the Dominican Republic, the agency said on Wednesday, fuelling concerns about the disease creeping closer to the United States. The positive tests represent the first detection of the disease in the Americas in about 40 […] Read more