Washington | Reuters — Cargill and Continental Grain said on Friday that they had closed their deal to buy Sanderson Farms, the third largest chicken producer, in a deal worth some US$4.53 billion. Under the deal, which was announced last August, Sanderson is being combined with Continental Grain subsidiary Wayne Farms. Sanderson will cease trading […] Read more
Cargill, Continental close U.S. chicken deal
Indonesia’s foot-and-mouth outbreak prompts international measures
'Viral fragments' detected in meats brought into Australia
Reuters — Australia and New Zealand say they’ve stepped up protections against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) at their international airports following an outbreak of the disease in Indonesia. Travellers arriving in Australia from Indonesia will now be asked to walk across sanitation foot mats at airports, the latest measure to ramp up Australia’s biosecurity measures, the […] Read more
Nutrien buys expanded ag retail presence in Brazil
Reuters — Top fertilizer maker Nutrien on Wednesday agreed to acquire Casa do Adubo S.A., as part of its ambitions to expand its Brazilian retail business. The deal marks Nutrien’s sixth acquisition in Brazil since 2019, when it set a strategic goal to build its market share in a country that is vital to feeding […] Read more
More than 200 people die as drought ravages northeast Uganda
Kampala | Reuters — More than 200 people have died from hunger this month in northeastern Uganda, where a prolonged drought and rampant insecurity have left more than half a million facing starvation, a local official and a charity worker said. Inhabited by nomadic pastoralists, the semi-arid and remote Karamoja region on the border with […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle futures weak, hogs slightly higher
Futures gain on the week
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures fell for the second day in a row on Friday, with expectations that supplies will outstrip demand in the coming months. The most-active August live cattle futures dropped 0.475 cent to settle at 134.925 cents/lb. (all figures US$). The contract fell below its 10-day moving average […] Read more
Biden steps in to help end freight rail labour disputes
Disputes dragging at BNSF, Union Pacific
Washington | Reuters — U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday signed an executive order creating an emergency board to help resolve disputes between major freight rail carriers and their unions, in a move that could help loosen up some supply chain constraints. The order came ahead of a deadline next week to intervene in nationwide […] Read more
Denmark’s Royal Unibrew to buy Toronto’s Amsterdam Brewery
Brewer seeks new capacity in North America
Corrected, July 18 — Copenhagen | Reuters –– Danish brewer and beverage maker Royal Unibrew will acquire Toronto craft brewer Amsterdam Brewery in a deal valued at around 250 million Danish crowns (C$44 million), Royal Unibrew said in a statement on Friday. “The acquisition we are doing today is very important for the future growth […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle futures weaken on profit-taking
Hogs fall on technical setback
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures fell on Thursday on a round of profit-taking after three straight days of gains, traders said. Signs of weakness in the cash market also weighed on cattle futures. The front-month feeder cattle contract was setting back from its highest since November 2015. Hog futures fell on […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME feeder cattle rally to highest since November 2015
August live cattle, lean hogs also up
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile exchange cattle futures extended gains on Wednesday on follow-through technical buying after rallying in the previous two sessions. Tight supplies remained in focus as the front-month feeder cattle contract hit its highest on a continuous basis since November 2015. “Big picture, the U.S. Agriculture Department still has sharply reduced […] Read more
Marcos vows to boost Philippines’ grains output
New president/ag min aims to avert food crisis
Manila | Reuters — Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vowed Monday to do what it takes to boost his country’s rice and corn production, seeking to reduce reliance on imports and avoid being hit hard by a food crisis now looming across the world. Marcos, who was sworn in as president last week and has […] Read more