(Dave Bedard photo)

U.S. EPA finalizes 2016 renewables target at 18.1B gallons

New York | Reuters — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency wants energy companies to blend 18.1 billion gallons (68.5 billion litres) of biofuels into the nation’s fuel supply next year, more than in a proposal laid out in May, it said in announcing final rules on renewables use for 2014-16 on Monday. The EPA’s long-awaited […] Read more


(Assembly.ab.ca)

Alta. farm bill applies to paid workers only, minister says

UPDATED, Nov. 28, 2015 — New legislation applying Alberta’s rules on workplace standards and workers’ compensation to farm workers is meant for farms’ paid employees — not for family members or neighbours helping out on family farms. The province’s labour minister has said as much after stormy early going in the government’s consultations on Bill […] Read more



(Manitoba Co-operator file photo by Laura Rance)

Manitoba winter fertilizing ban back on

Snow’s arrival throughout Manitoba means no more extensions for the province’s farmers to apply winter fertilizer or manure. The province said Thursday its second extension, which was to run until the end of the day, has been rescinded, and the winter nutrient application ban is in place effective immediately, given “recent snowfall accumulations.” The winter […] Read more



Australia’s Treasurer Scott Morrison, shown here earlier this year, has blocked the sale of S. Kidman’s farmland holdings to overseas bidders. (ScottMorrison.com.au)

Australia blocks foreign firm’s deal for largest farm owner

Sydney | Reuters –– Australia on Thursday blocked the sale of the country’s largest landowner, private farming group S. Kidman and Co., to foreign investors, saying an agricultural area the size of South Korea should remain in Australian hands. Ownership of farmland is a sensitive political issue in Australia amid concerns that foreign buyers are […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle finish strong after wild ride

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle contracts closed higher on Tuesday amid massive short-covering spurred by higher wholesale beef values that overcame selling led by lower cash price expectations for later this week, traders said. Spot December finished at 128.025 cents/lb., up 0.35 cent, and February 0.925 cent higher at 130.575 cents […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle tumble limit down

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures finished Monday’s session down by their three cents/lb. daily price limit after late Friday’s cash prices fell short of expectations, traders and analysts said. Spot December finished at 127.675 cents/lb., and February at 129.65 cents (all figures US$). Live cattle’s trading limit will be expanded […] Read more