Western Canadian feeder cattle markets experienced extreme volatility over the past week. Strong buying interest was noted on pre-conditioned calves while unweaned bawlers traded $2-$5 per hundredweight (cwt) lower. Alberta packers showed limited interest for fed cattle due to uncertainty in wholesale beef values. However, by the weekend, fed cattle in the U.S. southern Plains […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle markets remain firm at feature sales
Ont. barley, oat growers set to vote on GFO membership
Ontario’s Farm Products Marketing Commission will run a vote for the province’s oats and barley growers starting Friday, to decide whether Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) will be the growers’ voice going forward. The commission will conduct a mail-in vote from Friday (Oct. 31) to Nov. 17 to see whether oat and barley growers wish […] Read more
Cutrale-Safra wins takeover battle for fruit producer Chiquita
Sao Paulo | Reuters — Chiquita Brands International agreed on Monday to a US$682 million takeover by Brazilian juice maker Grupo Cutrale and investment firm Safra Group, with the U.S.-based banana producer going private early next year at the latest. The acquisition is a victory for Brazilian-Lebanese financier Joseph Safra and orange juice baron Jose […] Read more
Prairie CWRS bids mostly higher despite losses in U.S. futures
CNS Canada — Average cash bids for Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat were mostly higher during the week, despite weakness in Minneapolis spring wheat futures as basis levels improved in most regions. Prices in the Peace region of Alberta declined, however, as basis levels widened out. CWRS prices were between $1.50 lower in the […] Read more
CME to include electronic trades in livestock settlement prices
Chicago | Reuters –– CME Group will begin including electronic trades in the calculation of daily settlement prices for its live cattle, feeder cattle and lean hog contracts, the exchange said in a letter to its livestock customers Monday. The change, which is considered a blended settlement, will take effect from Dec. 15, pending a […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn, soybeans jump two per cent on demand, fund buying
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn and soybeans surged more than two per cent on Monday, with each futures contract reversing from early losses on a short-covering rally tied to a slow harvest and strong demand for fresh supplies. The higher prices came despite favorable weather conditions for harvest in the U.S., where farmers were […] Read more
CWB takes pass on FNA’s proposal
Ag input buying group Farmers of North America (FNA) says its proposal to buy the grain firm formerly known as the Canadian Wheat Board has been rebuffed. Saskatoon-based FNA said Monday its proposal — which called for CWB’s assets to become part of an farmer-owned grain handling and fertilizer manufacturing and marketing organization dubbed Genesis […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle jump with beef prices
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures settled higher on Monday, fueled by the rebound in wholesale beef prices that helped erase Friday’s market losses, traders said. October closed 1.3 cents per pound higher at 169.55 cents, and December was 0.925 cents higher at 167.825 cents (all figures US$). Monday morning’s choice […] Read more
Sask. to review liquor retailing system
A plan for public consultations on the future of liquor retailing is included in the Saskatchewan government’s speech from the throne. Premier Brad Wall’s throne speech, delivered Wednesday by Lt.-Gov. Vaughn Schofield, reiterated previous statements that the Saskatchewan Party government “will not spend one more taxpayers’ dollar building liquor stores.” New liquor stores in the […] Read more
Hong Kong fast-food firm sheds food-court icons
A group of quick-serve Asian cuisine outlets renowned in shopping-mall food courts across Canada is back under Canadian ownership. Hong Kong-based Cafe de Coral, a major publicly-traded operator of Chinese fast-food restaurant chains, and its operating arm Manchu Wok Entities announced Thursday they’ll sell the Manchu Wok, Wasabi Grill and Noodle and SenseAsian businesses in Canada […] Read more