(Dave Bedard photo)

Guenther: McDonald’s sustainability goals to reach beyond beef

Farmers who want to keep supplying the world’s biggest quick-service restaurant chains can expect more scrutiny of their methods going forward. That’s because the chains’ customers appear to be looking for more sustainably-produced food — so companies such as McDonald’s in turn are looking for third-party verification to prove the ingredients they source make the […] Read more


Pocket record book for the year.

Saskatchewan’s 21-Day Calving Challenge

… a calving record book with a twist

There are three $1,000 vouchers for mineral supplement up for grabs in the Saskatchewan 21-Day Calving Challenge, but everyone is a winner year after year just by paying attention to the reproductive success of their cow herds. The simplest and most effective way to do that is to track calving distribution by counting the number […] Read more

cattle herd in winter

It’s all about the cattle numbers

Numbers are the lifeblood of the North American beef industry. Whether it’s cattle prices, wholesale beef prices, slaughter and production levels, or cattle and beef exports and imports, the industry pores over numbers every week to glean what might lie ahead. Forecasts for 2015 start with cattle numbers. The early prospects continue to be bright […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

Cargill begins selling GM corn seed at centre of lawsuits

Reuters — Cargill has started selling a variety of genetically modified Syngenta corn seed that previously disrupted U.S. grain trading, now that China has approved imports of the biotech crop. Cargill, one of the top U.S. grain exporters, began selling seed containing the Agrisure Viptera trait last month and scrapped a policy that required farmers […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Cargill likely to stay private, CEO says

Miami | Reuters — Cargill, one of the world’s largest privately held corporations and a top commodities trader, will likely remain private for at least another decade, its CEO said on Tuesday as he assessed challenges facing the 150-year old company. David MacLennan, who has led Cargill for the past 13 months, also revealed that […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

Cargill to shutter U.S. turkey plant

Reuters — Agricultural conglomerate Cargill said Friday it will shutter its turkey and cooked meats processing plant in Springfield, Mo., and move the operations to Nebraska City, Nebraska, and Waco, Texas. Cargill said it will close its Springfield plant, which employs 118 people, on March 11. The decision came about after Cargill assessed its turkey […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Cargill profit surges as lower grain prices spur demand

Reuters — Replenished grain supplies following a bumper North American harvest bolstered global commodities trader Cargill’s bottom line in its latest quarter as lower prices lifted demand for crops and padded margins on meat sales. Privately-held Cargill, based in Minnesota, reported net earnings of $784 million for the second quarter ended Nov. 30, up 41 […] Read more


(NutrecoCanada.com)

Nutreco shares slip after Cargill ends bid fight

Amsterdam | Reuters — Shares in Nutreco fell last Tuesday after U.S. commodities company Cargill said it was pulling out of a bid battle for the Dutch animal feed maker. Cargill’s withdrawal leaves the field clear for Dutch investment firm SHV, which has made an offer valuing the company at around 3.1 billion euros (C$4.4 […] Read more

Normalized relations with Cuba seen positive for U.S. agriculture

Chicago | Reuters — The normalization of diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba is an “important opportunity” for U.S. agriculture that will make exports of U.S. farm goods cheaper, easier and less time consuming for shippers, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Wednesday. President Barack Obama announced on Wednesday that the U.S. plans […] Read more