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

U.S. to ban use of chlorpyrifos on food crops
Cancellation already scheduled for most outdoor use in Canada

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pet food shortages leave owners on the hunt for kibble
Chicago | Reuters – Black short-haired kitty Astra, one of millions of pets acquired during the COVID-19 pandemic last year, had to go without salmon-flavored Whiskas treats that were sold out at stores in New Orleans this month. Loki, an Alaskan malamute dog in Ontario, Canada, did not have his usual Royal Canin kibble in […] Read more

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