The International Grains Council has cut sharply its forecast for the world maize crop in 2012-13, citing the worst U.S. drought since 1956, and saw stocks of the commodity falling to a six-year low by the end of the season. World maize production in 2012-13 was put at 864 million tonnes, down from a previous […] Read more
IGC cuts maize forecast
Cargill recalls us ground beef after salmonella outbreak
Nearly 15 tons of ground beef have been recalled by a unit of agriculture conglomerate Cargill Inc in connection with a seven-state outbreak of salmonella across the northeast and Virginia, the United States Department of Agriculture said. Cargill Meat Solutions, based in Wichita, Kansas, voluntarily recalled 29,339 pounds of fresh ground beef products produced at […] Read more
Sask. sees no competition concern in Viterra takeover
Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, whose views could be pivotal in determining Ottawa’s stance on Glencore International’s $6.1 billion takeover bid for grain handler Viterra, said on Tuesday the proposal seems to address concerns about maintaining grain market competition. Viterra’s head office is in Regina, and the Prairie province is a major grain producer. Wall’s opposition […] Read more
Morgan Stanley cuts corn, soy, wheat price forecasts
Wall Street bank Morgan Stanley lowered on Tuesday its price forecasts for corn, soybeans and wheat, citing better-than-expected global supply and negative market sentiment regarding agricultural commodities. "Counter to our expectations in late September, agricultural prices have weakened meaningfully owing to a string of bearish U.S. data, expectations of better (2011-12) global production and the […] Read more
U.S. to accept Canadian cattle’s blood meal
The United States will resume imports of blood meal from Canadian cattle for the first time in eight years, a senior Canadian government source said Tuesday. Trade in bovine blood meal, which is used in fertilizers and animal feeds, will be worth about $4 million per year to the Canadian beef industry, the source said. […] Read more
Saskatchewan harvest ahead of normal
Saskatchewan farmers have harvested 60 per cent of the overall 2011 crop as of Sept. 12, moving ahead of the five-year average after a week of favorable weather, the provincial government said on Thursday in a weekly report. * Harvest progress most advanced for this time of year in four years. * Five-year average for […] Read more
Canada joins international wheat research group
Wheat researchers gathered in Paris Sept. 15 to launch a global research program in what G20 president France says will support efforts to feed a growing world population. France hopes the initiative will select priority research areas by next year, but support for the initiative is uncertain, with only 10 countries signed up so far […] Read more
Protein premiums disappear for U.S.spring wheat crop
Reuters reports that a combination of well-fertilized fields and hot, dry weather is leading to the highest-protein U.S. spring wheat crop in five years, and former high premiums for protein are evaporating. MGEX spring wheat futures are trading near a three-month high due to the small crop, closing at $9.50 per bushel on Thursday, and […] Read more
Well, it could have come from the bull named ‘Dynamite’
A spill of frozen bull semen bound for a breeder in the state of Texas triggered a scare on Tuesday that temporarily shut down a U.S. interstate highway during the morning rush hour. The incident began when the driver of a Greyhound bus carrying the freight alerted the fire department he had lost a part […] Read more
Plenty of U.S. beef – for now, that is
Americans will have plenty of beef for the freezer, with enough left over to export in 2011, but supply will shrink in 2012 because the cattle herd is getting smaller, according to U.S. government reports released July 22. A USDA feedlot cattle report showed 10.45 million cattle were being fattened for slaughter on July 1, […] Read more