Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) has shut down last week’s media buzz about any possibility of a merger with the third biggest railway in the U.S. The Wall Street Journal and other media recently reported Calgary-based CP and Jacksonville-based CSX had held “exploratory talks” about combining their operations. [Related story] CP on Monday confirmed it had […] Read more
CP, CSX no longer talking merger
A+W tightens chicken supply requirements
Canada’s No. 2 burger chain, in the midst of a bid to carve out new market space for its beef and eggs, now plans to differentiate its chicken burgers and chicken strips in the same way. A+W Food Services on Monday announced the latest step in its “Our Ingredients Guarantee” campaign, pledging it will “only […] Read more
Revised U.S. COOL law still breaks trade rules, WTO panel finds
A World Trade Organization compliance panel has ruled the U.S. government offside in its latest attempt at a trade-compliant country-of-origin labelling (COOL) law on meat. Following a long-awaited public release Monday, the ruling may give Canada and Mexico the ammunition to demand COOL be scrapped, on pain of retaliatory tariffs against a range of U.S.-made […] Read more
Canaryseed market quiet, but watching Europe
CNS Canada — Saskatchewan’s canaryseed harvest in Saskatchewan is moving along, although with production only up slightly on the year and demand steady for the time being, the market is relatively quiet. European demand, however, could be one supportive influence going forward. Current canaryseed prices range from about 22 to 24 cents per pound, and […] Read more
U.S. senator raises concerns over potential CP, CSX deal
Chicago | Reuters — The head of a U.S. Senate subcommittee raised concerns in a letter Thursday to the U.S. Attorney General and head of the top U.S. rail regulator about a potential merger between Canadian Pacific Railway and CSX Corp., and called on them both to fully review the antitrust implications of any such […] Read more
Shortlines shortchanged in Western Canada
CNS Canada — Western Canada’s shortline railways are getting the short end of the stick as they struggle to meet their own commitments moving grain and other products along their tracks. A backlog of grain on the Prairies over the past winter, linked in part to poor rail movement, prompted the federal government to implement […] Read more
As clock winds down, CP’s CEO hunts for his dream deal
Toronto/Chicago | Reuters — Veteran railroad boss Hunter Harrison has won over many critics since taking over as chief executive of Canadian Pacific Railway (CP), but he still has unfinished business — creation of a consolidated North American railway — and is running out of time to do it. That might explain why CP, Canada’s […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle close weak; hogs higher
Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed down slightly on Friday after investors digested this week’s prices for market-ready or cash cattle, traders said. October closed down 0.2 cent per pound to 165.05 cents, and December 0.25 cent lower at 165.05 cents (all figures US$). Cash cattle this week sold steady […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soy, corn drop as harvest weather improves
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean and corn futures each fell more than one per cent on Friday as clearing skies in the Midwest signaled a quicker pace in the harvest of record-large crops and increased farmer selling, traders said. Wheat closed modestly lower, retreating from a one-month high on profit-taking and spillover weakness from […] Read more
Ex-Cargill beef manager fights bid to keep him from rival
Chicago | Reuters — Valuable trade secrets that Cargill claims were stolen by a longtime manager in its meatpacking division who quit for rival JBS SA are nothing more than basic butchery, lawyers for the employee said in court documents. Privately-held Cargill, one of the top U.S. meat producers, is asking a federal judge in […] Read more