(Gloria Solano-Aguilar photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Hog rally good news, but exports needed long-term

CNS Canada — The recent rally in U.S. hog futures offers hedging opportunities and cash prices are supported for the short term, but Tyler Fulton at Hams Marketing tempers optimism for the longer-term outlook. “We have advocated for hedging, particularly for the fall and winter timeframe,” he said. However, he cautioned, the current rally is […] Read more



U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, Canadian Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay and Mexico’s Secretary of Agriculture Jose Calzada (l-r) speak at the Port of Savannah, Ga. on June 20. (Stephen B. Morton photo courtesy Georgia Ports Authority)

NAFTA agriculture ministers see ‘few’ differences over trade

Garden City, Ga. | Reuters — The U.S., Canada and Mexico have “relatively few” differences on agricultural trade, agriculture ministers from the three countries said in a joint statement after meeting Tuesday to discuss the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement. However, some “irritants” are present for each country in the runup to […] Read more

A Whole Foods Market store in San Francisco. (WholeFoodsMarket.com)

Whole Foods CEO hints at another brand under Amazon

Reuters — After Amazon.com completes its takeover of high-end grocer Whole Foods Market, it might launch another brand with different standards, the grocery chain’s chief executive said in remarks reported in a securities filing on Monday. Amazon plans to keep the natural grocer’s high standards, Whole Foods CEO John Mackey said, adding, “They’re not stupid […] Read more



Quebec Agriculture Minister Pierre Paradis. (MAPAQ.gouv.qc.ca)

No charges against Quebec’s ex-ag minister

Quebec’s director of prosecutions has decided not to pursue criminal charges against the province’s fired agriculture minister over allegations of “acts of a sexual character.” The province’s director of criminal and penal prosecutions (DPCP) announced in a release Monday that the office was “not reasonably convinced” culpability could be proven against the provincial member for […] Read more



(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Cattle, hogs mostly higher on short-covering

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. livestock futures were mostly higher on Friday, with cattle prices stabilizing after Thursday’s multiweek lows and hogs consolidating in the middle of their recent trading ranges. Most-active Chicago Mercantile Exchange August live cattle settled 0.675 cents higher at 118.175 cents/lb. (all figures US$). June live cattle futures finished 0.8 cent […] Read more