pandemic Archives - Page 8 of 20

A deal for Planters would be Hormel Foods’ biggest to date, the Wall Street Journal said. (Kraft Heinz promotional video screengrab via YouTube)

Kraft Heinz reported in talks to sell Planters snack business

Pandemic-based surge in snack demand wanes

By Reuters, GFM Network News February 3, 2021

Reuters — Kraft Heinz is in talks to sell its Planters snack business to Skippy peanut butter maker Hormel Foods for about US$3 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The deal could be announced as soon as next week if talks do not fall apart, the Journal […] Read more

File photo of South African malting barley. (Sunshine Seeds/iStock/Getty Images)

Barley, Crops, Markets, Reuters

South Africa’s barley growers face bleak outlook on alcohol ban

Ban reinstated against COVID-19 surge

By GFM Network News January 29, 2021

Johannesburg | Reuters — South African barley farmers are bracing for a tough market ahead as demand for the grain used to make beer falls and stockpiles grow after a ban on the sale of alcohol was reinstated as the country battles a surge in COVID-19 cases. The government in December enforced its third ban […] Read more

Minks at a farm near Soroe in Denmark on Nov. 5, 2020. (Photo: Reuters/Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen)

Livestock, Reuters

Denmark to compensate mink farmers after nationwide cull

By Reuters, GFM Network News January 26, 2021

Copenhagen | Reuters — Denmark, the top exporter of mink furs, will compensate its mink farmers with up to 19 billion Danish crowns (C$3.95 billion) following an order last year to cull the country’s entire population. Denmark’s entire herd of some 17 million mink, one of the world’s biggest and highly valued for the quality […] Read more

A horse on a property at Goulais River, north of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. (Davidfillion/iStock/Getty Images)

Livestock

Ontario backs ‘horse experience’ businesses for horse upkeep

Trail ride operations, riding schools, others eligible

By Dave Bedard, GFM Network News January 19, 2021

Ontario horses whose jobs with riding schools, camps and trail rides were lost or cut back during the COVID-19 pandemic may be eligible for funding toward their upkeep. The province on Thursday announced a $3 million equine hardship program would launch starting Monday (Jan. 18) help “horse experience” businesses cover animal maintenance costs. The program […] Read more

Crops, Markets

Port of Thunder Bay wraps up 21st-century-best year

By MarketsFarm Team, GFM Network News January 14, 2021

MarketsFarm — The last vessel of the 2020-21 shipping season left the Port of Thunder Bay on Tuesday, wrapping up the busiest year at the port since 1997. Annual cargo volumes through came in at 10.2 million tonnes, which marked the first time the tonnage topped 10 million since 1997. A total of 9.3 million […] Read more

The World Trade Organization (WTO) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland on Oct. 28, 2020. (Photo: Reuters/Denis Balibouse)

Crops, Reuters

Ban on food aid restrictions blocked at WTO

WTO says outcome 'disappointing' in difficult year

By GFM Network News December 21, 2020

Geneva | Reuters — World Trade Organization members were at odds on Friday over a proposal that would ban countries from restricting food aid deliveries, potentially complicating the response to a feared COVID-fuelled humanitarian catastrophe next year. The proposal was one of two related to the pandemic that failed to make headway at a three-day […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Livestock, Markets

Guelph beef plant idled against COVID-19 outbreak

Cattle set-aside plan en route, BFO says

By Dave Bedard, GFM Network News December 17, 2020

Agrifood giant Cargill is temporarily halting production at its beef processing plant at Guelph, Ont. in the wake of a significant COVID-19 outbreak among employees. The company announced it would “begin the process to temporarily idle” the Dunlop Drive plant effective Thursday (Dec. 17). “This was a difficult decision for our team who are operating […] Read more

Hogs, Livestock, Reuters

Tyson fires seven managers after probe into COVID-19 wagering

Employees had been suspended following lawsuit

By Reuters, GFM Network News December 17, 2020

Reuters — Tyson Foods said Wednesday it had fired seven managers at an Iowa pork plant after investigating allegations that they took bets on how many employees would catch COVID-19. The independent investigation, led by former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, came in response to a lawsuit filed by the son of a worker at […] Read more

File photo of uncooked chicken wings. (Mimadeo/iStock/Getty Images)

Livestock, Poultry/Eggs

COVID outbreak shuts Nova Scotia poultry plant

Province closes Eden Valley for at least two weeks

By Dave Bedard, GFM Network News December 12, 2020

Provincial officials have temporarily shut a chicken and turkey slaughter and processing plant in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley, citing recent cases of COVID-19 among employees. Eden Valley Poultry’s processing plant at Berwick will be closed “for at least two weeks,” the provincial health department said in a release Friday. “We know this will be a […] Read more

An image created by Nexu Science Communication, together with Trinity College in Dublin, shows a model structurally representative of a betacoronavirus, the type of virus linked to COVID-19. (Nexu Science Communication via Reuters)

Livestock, Machinery, Reuters

U.S. pork packer Smithfield offers ultra-cold vaccine storage

COVID-19 vaccines need storage at -20 C, -70 C

By Tom Polansek, GFM Network News December 4, 2020

Chicago | Reuters — Smithfield Foods, the world’s biggest pork processor, said on Thursday it had offered to help U.S. health officials distribute COVID-19 vaccines and store them in ultra-cold freezers that are in high demand to support a public vaccination campaign. U.S. states, cities and hospitals are scrambling to buy freezers that can safely […] Read more

Field-by-field mapping could improve yield, productivity predictions

U.S. grains: Corn futures edge up, soybeans sag on improving US crop ratings

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures up, hogs mixed

GFM Network News