Hamburg | Reuters — The collapse in grain prices caused by concern about the global impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus has generated some bargain-buying by importing countries, traders said on Tuesday. But they said the extent was still limited and there were no signs importers were making especially large purchases to expand stocks. “We are […] Read more
Grain price slump attracts bargain-hunting by importers
Bayer reported inching toward glyphosate settlement
Reuters — Bayer has agreed on draft settlement terms with half a dozen law firms representing tens of thousands of plaintiffs alleging that its Roundup herbicide causes cancer, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. Shares of the German drugs and pesticides company have come under immense pressure since […] Read more
Zimbabwe offers land as compensation for 800 seized farms
Harare | Reuters — Zimbabwe’s government will offer land as compensation for nearly 800 farms it seized under its land acquisition policy since 2000, according to regulations published on Thursday. Under former President Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe took over some 5,000 farms, mostly from white farmers, saying the policy was meant to address colonial imbalances. But […] Read more
China proposes new standards on hormone residues in beef
New standards would apply to all beef exporters
Beijing | Reuters — China has drawn up food safety standards on residue limits of growth hormones in beef, a move seen as a further step toward opening up its market to imports of the meat from the U.S. China has previously had zero tolerance for any residues of growth hormones, which has restricted the […] Read more
U.S. forecaster sees 65 per cent chance of no spring El Nino, La Nina
Reuters — There is about a 65 per cent chance that neutral weather conditions will prevail in the Northern Hemisphere this spring with no El Niño or La Niña, up from 60 per cent last month, a U.S. government weather forecaster said on Thursday. The El Niño-Southern Oscillation-neutral (ENSO) weather pattern is marked by average […] Read more
U.S. says it would ban pig shipments if swine fever detected
Chicago | Reuters — The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Friday it will prohibit shipments of all pigs for at least three days if the nation ever finds a case of a fatal hog disease that has ravaged China’s herd. The federal government is preparing to contain and eradicate African swine fever if it spreads […] Read more
Canopy Growth to shut two B.C. greenhouses, cut 500 jobs
Niagara greenhouse plans also shelved
Reuters — Pot producer Canopy Growth Corp. said on Wednesday it plans to close two of its greenhouses in Aldergrove and Delta, B.C., cutting about 500 positions. The company also said it no longer plans to open a third greenhouse in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. Canopy had said last month it aims to focus on reducing costs, […] Read more
Argentina to raise soy export taxes to 33 per cent from 30
Buenos Aires | Reuters — Argentina plans to raise taxes on soybean, soyoil and soymeal exports to 33 per cent from the current 30, the agriculture ministry said on Tuesday, as the government moves to increase revenue ahead of a planned sovereign bond restructuring. Ministry officials met with farm groups during the day to discuss […] Read more
Argentina ag ministry suspends registration of exports
Buenos Aires | Reuters — Argentina’s ministry of agriculture suspended on Wednesday the registration of agricultural exports until further notice, it said in a statement, a move that traders said likely foreshadowed a steep increase in grains export tariffs. “When they close the registration, it’s because something is coming,” said agricultural consultant Nestor Roulet, secretary […] Read more
EU-Canada trade deal clears hurdle in Dutch parliament
Amsterdam | Reuters — The European Union’s free trade agreement with Canada cleared a political hurdle on Tuesday, when a slim majority of lawmakers in the Dutch lower house voted to ratify the contested deal. Votes by members of the country’s governing coalition were enough to approve the deal, which was rejected by opposition parties […] Read more
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