Sydney | Reuters — An outbreak of a feared disease affecting banana plants has been confirmed on an Australian farm, raising worries over the outlook for the country’s A$550 million (C$537 million) industry. The so-called Tropical Race 4 strain of Panama disease was confirmed at a farm in Tully in the country’s northeast after tests […] Read more
Feared plant disease found on Australian banana farm
Wayne Farms files for IPO
Reuters — Wayne Farms, the sixth-largest poultry producer in the U.S., has filed with U.S. regulators in an initial public offering of common stock. Wayne Farms is a subsidiary of Continental Grain, one of the largest privately-held corporations in the U.S. Citigroup, J.P. Morgan and BMO Capital Markets are underwriting the IPO, Wayne told the […] Read more
Argentina creates grains stimulus fund in election year
Buenos Aires | Reuters –– Argentina will create a 2.5 billion-peso (C$360 million) stimulus fund for small and medium-scale grains producers which will be funded by existing taxes on the exports of large farms, Economy Minister Axel Kicillof said on Monday. Kicillof said small-scale farmers of soy, wheat, and corn had struggled with a 30 […] Read more
Ammonium sulphate seen tougher to find, afford
CNS Canada — A shortfall in production seems to have made granular ammonium sulphate, the prime fertilizer used by canola growers in Western Canada, relatively scarce just weeks away from seeding. “Last year (it was) $470 a tonne, now it’s $525 a tonne; if you can get it. Those were the words from my supplier,” […] Read more
U.S. may impose tougher curbs to contain bird flu in Arkansas
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. authorities are considering imposing tougher restrictions in Arkansas to contain a virulent strain of avian flu in the heart of the country’s poultry region in a bid to minimize international trade disruptions and contain the virus. The H5N2 flu discovered in Arkansas last week is the state’s first case of […] Read more
Four Unifor locals ratify deals with CN
Four of five groups of Canadian National Railway (CN) employees have voted to ratify the new collective labour deals that kept them from being locked out last month. CN said Monday its unionized clerical/intermodal/fleet mechanic, CNTL and excavator-operator units, all represented by Unifor locals, have all voted in favour of agreements with 51-month terms. The […] Read more
Klassen: Price environment continues to enhance feeder complex
The stars continue to align in the correct pattern for the feeder cattle market, as prices in Western Canada jumped $2 to $5 this past week with noticeable advances in the lighter-weight categories. The Canadian dollar continues to deteriorate, and there is potential for further weakness given the overall economic situation. Secondly, Alberta fed cattle […] Read more
Prairie wheat bids rise with U.S. futures, improving basis
CNS Canada –– Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) and Canada Prairie Spring Red (CPSR) cash bids moved higher in Western Canada during the week ended Friday, underpinned by strength in U.S. wheat futures and improving basis levels. Average CWRS wheat prices were C$6 to more than $9 per tonne higher during the week, with bids […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat rallies on concerns about crop
Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. wheat futures rose for the sixth time in seven sessions on Monday on concerns about dry conditions in the U.S. Plains hindering growth as the winter wheat crop emerges from dormancy. Corn futures sagged due to pressure from lower-than-expected U.S. export inspections data. Soybeans also dropped as traders anticipated huge […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs edge up, live cattle end lower
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hogs ended slightly higher on Monday, ending a seven-day losing streak, supported by stronger wholesale pork product prices while cash hog prices weighed, traders said. April closed just 0.1 cent per pound higher at 62.2 cents, while May ended unchanged at 71.425 cents (all figures US$). Monday […] Read more