Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog and live cattle futures rallied to multi-week highs on Monday. CME December lean hog futures rose 2.7 cents to settle at 84.95 cents/lb. (all figures US$). The contract peaked at 85.1 cents, its highest since Sept. 23, and rose above its 100-day and 200-day moving averages during […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Live cattle, hog futures hit multi-week highs
November feeder cattle end lower

Prairie cash wheat: Prices swing higher on U.S. gains
Canadian dollar down on week
MarketsFarm — Wheat prices on the Canadian Prairies were higher for the week ended Thursday. As Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) and Canada Prairie Spring Red (CPSR) wheats had modest upticks, Canada Western Amber Durum (CWAD) incurred double-digit increases. Gains in the U.S. wheat complex provided support, with a weaker Canadian dollar also underpinning values. […] Read more

Alberta issues final crop report for year
Harvest over 98 per cent done by region and crop type
MarketsFarm –– For the second year in a row the Alberta harvest wrapped up well ahead of the five-year average. With a gain of three points for the week ended Tuesday, Alberta Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development (AFRED) pegged the combining of major crops at 99.2 per cent complete. That’s 22 and a half […] Read more

India allows exports of wheat flour processed from imported grain
New Delhi | Reuters — India has allowed export-oriented units and the firms set up in special economic zones to export flour made from imported wheat, a government order said on Friday, conceding to the demands of food processors to allow shipments of value-added products. India will allow food processors to import duty-free wheat against […] Read more

Haiti gang blockade causing catastrophic hunger, U.N. says
Situation "close to breaking point," WFP rep says
Miami | Reuters — Haitians are experiencing catastrophic hunger because of gangsters blockading a major fuel terminal, U.N. officials said on Friday, with more than four million facing acute food insecurity. A coalition of gangs has prevented the distribution of diesel and gasoline for over a month to protest a plan to cut fuel subsidies. […] Read more

U.S. grains: Wheat drops on firm dollar, hopes for Black Sea talks
Lower wheat, dull demand weigh on corn, soybeans
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures fell on Friday, surrendering all the prior session’s gains on a stronger dollar and hopes of progress in negotiations to maintain a Ukrainian Black Sea grain export corridor. Corn and soybeans followed wheat lower, weighed down by lacklustre demand and pressured by lower energy and equities markets. On […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Lean hog futures rise on good demand
Cattle futures mostly lower
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures climbed to a near three-week high on Friday as strong demand and improved pork packer margins sparked buying ahead of the weekend, traders said. Another solid week of pork export sales added support, soothing concerns about rising supplies of market-ready hogs, they said. “Demand is […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cattle, hogs mostly down on weak margins, inflation worries
Beef packer margins in negative territory
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle and hog futures ended mostly lower on Thursday on eroding meat packer margins and as soaring inflation raises demand concerns, traders said. Technical selling and profit-taking further fueled declines in livestock futures after live cattle and lean hog contracts touched 2-1/2-week highs this week. A U.S. Labor […] Read more

Drought-stricken B.C. bracing for floods when rains return
Reuters — British Columbia on Thursday warned residents to prepare for flooding when rains eventually return after a prolonged drought exacerbated by climate change that has raised concerns about long-term damage to ecosystems ranging from glaciers to salmon rivers. The usually rainy western province has experienced weeks of record-breaking warm fall temperatures and minimal precipitation […] Read more

Feed weekly outlook: Freight costs could determine grain availability
MarketsFarm — There are very good prices for feed barley and wheat in Alberta, according to Susanne Leclerc of Market Master Ltd. in Edmonton — but two factors could limit their availability. Leclerc said there is good demand for feed wheat in the province, “but prices are slightly up because we’re not seeing a lot […] Read more