Sydney | Reuters — A trade deal signed with great fanfare between China and Australia has been touted as a major step toward Australia shifting its economy from a “mining boom” to a “dining boom,” but the reality is likely to be more sobering. Australia is looking to replace its reliance on exports of minerals […] Read more
Australian ag exports to China still face hurdles after trade pact
Federal Liberals’ former ag critic won’t run again
The southern Ontario MP who served as the federal Liberals’ ag critic under interim leader Bob Rae plans not to seek re-election in 2015. Frank Valeriote, the MP for Guelph since 2008, announced Friday he will remain until the next federal election, set for Oct. 19 next year. Valeriote didn’t say specifically in his statement […] Read more
Prairie spring wheat bids rise with U.S. futures
CNS Canada –– Average cash bids for Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat moved higher during the week ended Friday, as strengthening U.S. futures provided support. In Manitoba, the average CWRS price rose to $234 per tonne, from $223 the previous week. Similar gains were noted across the rest of the Prairies, with average prices […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans rally on record exports, big U.S. crush
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybeans jumped one per cent on Monday, rebounding from an earlier one-week low after government and private reports showed larger-than-expected demand from exporters and crushers. Wheat and corn futures each fell more than one per cent at the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT), pressured by disappointing international demand for U.S. […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle rise with beef quotes
Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed higher Monday, helped by the morning’s strong wholesale beef values and last week’s record-high cash prices, traders said. Monday morning’s choice wholesale beef price jumped $2.03 per hundredweight (cwt) from Friday to $254.19 (all figures US$). Select climbed $1.53 to $239.82, the U.S. Department […] Read more
Farmers would pay more for water from proposed California tunnel
Sacramento | Reuters –– California farmers would pay more to irrigate their crops under a proposal to build tunnels under the San Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta to funnel water to the state’s agricultural breadbasket, officials said Friday. The analysis released by state Treasurer Bill Lockyer said regional water suppliers and the farmers who purchase water from […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle prices at lofty levels
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were steady to $3 higher on average this past week; quality calves were as much as $5 higher in certain cases. Strength in the fed cattle market enhanced feedlot margins for nearby positions which set a positive tone. South of the border, feeder prices were $3 to $5 higher in […] Read more
PED pops back up in southwestern Ontario
A farrow-to-finish hog operation in southwestern Ontario is home to the province’s 64th on-farm case of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED), its first such case in almost four months. The farm, in Middlesex County, reported “clinical signs” of the PED virus (PEDv) and submitted samples for testing Monday. Laboratory confirmation was received Tuesday, Ontario Pork said […] Read more
Weather, supplies drive cash U.S. cattle to new high
Chicago | Reuters — Prices for slaughter-ready or cash cattle in the U.S. Plains hit an all-time high Friday, fueled by an early winter storm at a time of the smallest herd since the early 1950s. Some beef packers paid record cattle prices of $171 to $172 per hundredweight (cwt) in parts of Kansas and […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat at three-month high, posts biggest weekly gain since 2012
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade wheat rose to a three-month high on Friday and posted its biggest weekly gain in two years, buoyed by fund buying and worries about a cold spell that could harm U.S. crop prospects, traders said. Soybeans fell, led by soymeal on softening export demand, and corn sagged […] Read more