(Regis Lefebure photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

U.S. livestock: Lower cash prices again send CME hogs to six-year low

Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog contracts drifted to a six-year low for a second straight day on Friday as plentiful seasonal supplies pulled prices for market-ready (cash) hogs lower, traders said. Spot December finished 0.4 cent/lb. lower at 55 cents, and February ended down 0.3 cent at 58.3 cents. Cash hog […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Architect of the Capitol, VisitTheCapitol.gov)

White House may have to renegotiate on TPP, senator says

Washington | Reuters –– A key U.S. senator said on Friday the Obama administration may have to renegotiate parts of a Pacific trade pact, heralding a tough battle to win support in Congress. The administration notified lawmakers Thursday it plans to sign the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership, starting a countdown to a congressional vote that could […] Read more


Saputo’s Canadian dairy division includes brands such as Dairyland, Neilson, Nutrilait, Baxter and Armstrong. (Dave Bedard photo)

TPP deal to pressure Canadian dairy farmers, Saputo says

Reuters — Canadian farmers will get squeezed between new trade deals that allow more dairy imports to enter the country and slow-growing domestic consumption, Saputo’s CEO said on Thursday. The Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal is expected to open access for New Zealand, the U.S. and other countries to 3.5 per cent of the Canadian market, […] Read more

(Natrel.ca)

Agropur to consolidate B.C. milk processing

Dairy co-operative Agropur plans to tighten up its fluid milk processing on British Columbia’s Lower Mainland, upgrading its milk plant at Burnaby and shutting its plant at Chilliwack. Quebec-based Agropur took over the Burnaby plant, along with facilities in Edmonton and Winnipeg, when it bought the former Canada Safeway milk processing plants from Sobeys last […] Read more


(PortMetroVancouver.com)

Canada to review TPP pact, seek public input

Ottawa | Reuters –– Canada’s new Liberal government will review a landmark Pacific trade deal negotiated by the outgoing Conservatives and wants public input on the accord, Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland said Thursday. Some Canadian dairy farmers and auto workers say their jobs could be threatened by the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership, which seeks to cut […] Read more




Canada’s new Agriculture and Agri-Foods Minister Lawrence MacAulay (l) is sworn-in during a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa November 4, 2015. Photo: REUTERS/Chris Wattie

Lawrence MacAulay sworn in as Canada’s new agriculture minister

Ottawa/Manitoba Co-operator – Only hours after being sworn in by Governor General David Johnston and mere minutes after leaving his first cabinet meeting, Canada’s newly minted Minister of Agriculture paused to speak with reporters gathered on Parliament Hill Nov. 3. “I’m certainly pleased,” said Lawrence MacAulay. “Being a dairy farmer and a seed potato farmer […] Read more



(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle close lower, but up from session lows

Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures finished lower on Tuesday, pressured by cash price pessimism that later improved, following unexpectedly better cash prices which lifted contracts from morning lows, traders said. Spot October closed 2.875 cents/lb. lower at 136.675 cents, but is currently down 0.675 cents, to 138.875, in electronic trading […] Read more