CORRECTED, Nov. 10, 2014 — Washington | Reuters — The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Friday approved the first genetically modified potato for commercial planting in the United States in more than a decade, a move likely to draw the ire of groups opposed to artificial manipulation of foods. The so-called Innate potato, developed by the […] Read more
USDA clears GMO potato with lower cancer risk
Quebec turns up second case of PEDv in hogs
Quebec has confirmed its second instance of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) in hogs, this time at a feeding operation in the Monteregie district. Biosecurity measures have been ramped up “promptly” at the unnamed farm to avoid the spread of the PED virus (PEDv) to other hog operations, the provincial ag ministry said in a release […] Read more
Manitoba extends fertilizer application window
Manitoba crop producers who’d hoped to apply manure or fertilizers to their fields now have a couple of extra days before the province’s annual winter ban takes effect. Manitoba’s conservation and water stewardship department announced Friday it will delay the start of the annual provincewide winter nutrient application ban until Wednesday (Nov. 12). Soil temperatures […] Read more
Mustard facing stiff Ukrainian competition
CNS Canada — Canadian mustard prices are holding steady but facing stiff competition from Ukraine, according to market participants. “What the market is seeing (for a) bid is 32 to 33 cents for yellow. A bit in the high 20s for brown mustard,” said Walter Dyck, a buyer with Wisconsin-based Olds Food Products. Values are […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle, hogs finish strong for the week
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures ended higher on Friday, with December helped by its discount to prices for market-ready or cash cattle, traders said. December closed up 1.45 cents per pound at 166.8 cents, and February 1.825 cents higher at 168.375 cents (all figures US$). On Friday, cash cattle in […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat posts first weekly loss since September
Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures dropped for the fourth day in a row on Friday as U.S. exporters struggled to compete in an export market laden with supplies from around the globe, traders said. Corn prices also fell, with investors staking out positions ahead of a U.S. Agriculture Department report […] Read more
U.S. groups suing FDA over ractopamine approvals
Chicago | Reuters –– A group of environmental and public health groups sued the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday, seeking to set aside the agency’s approvals for feed additives containing ractopamine that are used to boost the weight of cattle and pigs. The groups, in two related lawsuits filed in federal court, claim […] Read more
Prairies’ winter wheat looks good heading into dormancy
CNS Canada — There weren’t a lot of acres planted to winter wheat in Western Canada this fall due to the late harvest of many other crops — but what was seeded looks good as it heads into dormancy. “The fields that are there look good, just we have no clue how much there is,” […] Read more
Ontario supports local pork branding program
The Ontario government has provided Ontario Pork with up to $2 million to encourage more consumers to eat and purchase Ontario pork. In a release, the government said this supports Ontario’s local food strategy helping to make more local food available in the province’s markets, schools, cafeterias, grocery stores and restaurants. It said that since 2003, […] Read more
Strong durum market starting to show signs of faltering
Commodity News Service Canada — It’s a well known sentiment in the grain markets that ‘the best cure for high prices is high prices,’ and that is starting to show signs of proving true in the Western Canadian durum market. Durum bids in the $10 to $11 per bushel range can currently be found in […] Read more