Sydney/Hamburg | Reuters — Japan’s Marubeni Corp. is to close its Australian grain trading business after a review of its global operations. The move “is not in any way reflective of the performance of Marubeni Australia’s grain trading business division, which has been trading profitably for the past three years,” Makoto Kajitani, chairman and managing […] Read more
Marubeni to close Australian grain business
Wheat bids on Prairies rise with U.S. futures
CNS Canada –– Wheat cash bids across Western Canada moved higher in most classes during the week ended Friday, with gains in U.S. futures behind much of the strength. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat prices were steady to up by as much as $8 per tonne during the week, with bids ranging from […] Read more
Guenther: ‘Full story’ sought on crop health in Ukraine, Russia
Given the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine, the country might seem like a risky place to conduct a 10-day crop tour. But Mike Lee’s confident he can pull it off. “A lot of people think we’re completely nuts for going there. But to me, it’s not that crazy. It’s a fairly normal, straightforward place if […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat tumbles after rally as rain monitored
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat tumbled as much as two per cent on Tuesday as investors took profits after the previous session’s five-week high and extended weather outlooks showed the possibility of crop-friendly rains in the U.S. and Russia. Soybean futures also were lower at the Chicago Board of Trade, pressured by record South […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle futures extend gains
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle closed higher for a sixth consecutive session on Tuesday, partly led by a bounce in wholesale beef prices, traders said. April closed 0.65 cent per pound higher at 162 cents, and June up 0.05 cent to 153.05 cents (all figures US$). The morning’s choice wholesale beef […] Read more
Chile says drought here to stay, lays out plan to ensure water
Santiago | Reuters — With no end in sight to a drought that has blighted Chile for the last several years, the government will invest in desalinization plants and reservoirs to ensure access to potable water, President Michelle Bachelet said on Tuesday. The drought, which began in 2007, is hampering copper production in the world’s […] Read more
DuPont investors to vote on activist firm’s demands in May
Reuters — DuPont, embroiled in a proxy war with activist investor Trian Fund Management LP for board seats, said it would hold its annual shareholder meeting on May 13. Trian is seeking four seats on DuPont’s board, including one for its CEO Nelson Peltz, to help it force the company to split into two. DuPont […] Read more
Ontario’s neonic limits tabled for public comment
Proposed new controls on the use and sale of corn and soybean seed treated with neonicotinoid pesticides in Ontario are up for public comment between now and early May. The provincial government made its move Monday — three days ahead of a scheduled meeting between Agriculture Minister Jeff Leal and Grain Farmers of Ontario chairman […] Read more
U.S. developing bird flu vaccine, no distribution plans yet
Chicago | Reuters — The U.S. government is developing a vaccine to protect poultry from new strains of avian flu that have recently killed birds from Arkansas to Washington state. Within two months, scientists at a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) research lab in Georgia will test the vaccine on chickens to see how well […] Read more
Prairie farmers eye early start to seeding
Winnipeg | Reuters –– Western Canadian farmers, some of whom could not plant crops last year due to soggy soil, may be able to get a head-start on sowing their fields this spring. Canada is the world’s biggest canola exporter and the second largest wheat exporter, but its flat western provinces — Manitoba, Saskatchewan and […] Read more