Reuters — McDonald’s U.S. restaurants will gradually stop buying chicken raised with antibiotics vital to fighting human infections, the most aggressive step by a major food company to change chicken producers’ practices in the fight against dangerous “superbugs.” The world’s biggest restaurant chain announced on Wednesday that within two years, McDonald’s USA will only buy […] Read more
McDonald’s to phase out human antibiotics from U.S. chicken supply
Viterra boosts Glencore results
Commodity giant Glencore saw its earnings from mining and oils drop last year, but saw a 172 per cent increase in its earnings from agricultural trading — largely due to results from Viterra. The world’s largest commodity trader on Monday reported overall EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) of $12.8 billion on sales […] Read more
Killers sought in deaths of 300,000 chickens in South Carolina
Charleston | Reuters –– Revenge may be the motive for the killings in South Carolina of more than 300,000 commercial chickens worth about $1.7 million over the past two weeks, authorities said Monday. Birds have been found dead of unnatural causes in 16 chicken houses at six farms that grow chickens for Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., […] Read more
Cabbage seedpod weevil could cause problems for Prairie canola
CNS Canada –– Canola growes in Western Canada will have to keep an eye out for cabbage seedpod weevils in fields this year, according to government officials. “For cabbage seedpod weevil, the survey from last year was showing that it’s extended well eastwards (in Saskatchewan) with some pretty good numbers now moving more into traditional […] Read more
Rail problems continue as Prairie ag groups tackle CTA review
CNS Canada — Better data, equitable service regardless of where you live and service contracts with teeth are just some of the ideas being tossed around by Prairie farm leaders taking part in the Canadian Transportation Act review. “Producers want to see equitable service for everyone,” said Norm Hall, chairman of the Agricultural Producers Association […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans fall to one-week low on Brazil strike pause, harvest
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybeans fell to a one-week low on Tuesday in a technical selloff sparked by a weakening truckers strike in Brazil and the advancing harvest of what’s expected to be Brazil’s biggest soy crop ever. Soybean futures trimmed their losses late in the session while corn and wheat each reversed earlier […] Read more
Brazil truck strike wanes; more soy gets to ports
Sao Paulo | Reuters –– Only a handful of roads remained blocked in Brazil on Tuesday as truck drivers focused their grievances on Brasilia and a key highway in top soy state Mato Grosso opened after two weeks of protests. There were seven protests over rising freight costs affecting federal highways, down from 18 on […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Profit-taking sinks CME live cattle, hogs
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed sharply lower on Tuesday, racked by profit-taking and fund liquidation, traders said. April closed 2.4 cents lower at 151.05 cents, and June down 2.125 cents, to 143.675 cents (all figures US$). Funds sold after April and June drifted below their 40-day moving average of […] Read more
Wheat in study finds P where soil tests don’t
A long-term yield study in Saskatchewan shows wheat crops will use the phosphorus built up in soils over years of fertilizing — even where soil tests don’t show the nutrient is handy for use. While the results still need to be tested elsewhere, with other crops, the study’s findings may help Canadian farmers rethink how […] Read more
Saputo buys further into Australian cheese market
Canada’s biggest dairy processor has reached a deal to buy further into the Australian market, by buying the “everyday cheese” business of Australian beverage and dairy giant Lion. Saputo on Monday said it had reached a deal for Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory, its 88 per cent-owned Australian subsidiary, to buy Lion’s “EDC” business for […] Read more