London | Reuters — Britain faces a fresh food bottleneck if it drops out of the EU without a deal, the country’s largest supermarket group warned on Thursday, echoing comments from its biggest rival the previous day. As the country counts down to Brexit while politicians remain deadlocked over how best to oversee its departure […] Read more

Britain faces fresh food bottleneck if no Brexit deal

Nutrien merger’s effects ongoing a year later
CNS Canada — After clearing their regulatory hurdles, Canada’s Agrium and PotashCorp merged at the start of 2018 to become the world’s largest fertilizer company, Nutrien. The partner companies had made various promises at the time and many in Western Canada were cautious, hoping for the best but not fully knowing what to expect. A […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soybeans sink as China trade optimism wavers
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures dropped nearly two per cent on Thursday, the steepest slide since Nov. 26, reversing a week of gains due to a lack new purchases by China following trade talks with the United States. Forecasts for a bumper Brazilian soybean crop added pressure despite recent hot, dry weather in […] Read more

EU trade chief says U.S. talks won’t include agriculture
Washington | Reuters — The European Union and United States have not yet agreed on the scope of trade negotiations, but the bloc will not include agriculture in the talks, its trade commissioner said on Wednesday. U.S. President Donald Trump has sought better terms of trade with the EU, as well as China, Japan, Canada […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soy climbs on China trade optimism
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures rebounded on Wednesday, posting gains for the fifth session in six on hopes that China will accelerate its purchases of U.S. agricultural products following three days of trade talks with the United States this week. Corn also firmed as traders anticipated the grain would be among the goods […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soybeans slip from rally, eyes on China talks
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures declined for the first time in five sessions on Tuesday in a profit-taking and technical setback after notching 3-1/2-week highs a day earlier. Losses were limited, however, by hopes that trade talks between Washington and Beijing will open the door for more U.S. soybean exports to China following […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soy firm on Brazil dryness, China trade hopes
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures rose on Monday for a fourth straight session and notched a three-week high on concern about dry weather in Brazil and as trade talks between Washington and Beijing raised hopes of accelerated export purchases by China. Corn and wheat eased as some traders sold contracts to take profits […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soybeans up as China talks fuel export hopes
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures climbed to a two-week high on Friday on optimism over U.S.-China trade talks planned for next week, coupled with declining estimates of the size of Brazil’s developing crop, traders said. Corn and wheat followed the firm trend, with brightening export prospects for both grains lending support. Chicago Board […] Read more

U.S. delays key agriculture reports due to government shutdown
Chicago | Reuters — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) delayed several major domestic and world crop reports because of the two-week-old partial government shutdown, the agency said on Friday. New release dates for the monthly world agricultural supply and demand estimates (WASDE) report and other data originally scheduled for Friday, Jan. 11, will be […] Read more

As loans and aid dry up, U.S. farmers face fresh challenge from shutdown
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. farmers, already battered by the U.S.-China trade war, are facing increasing anxiety as the partial government shutdown nears the two-week mark, leaving crucial aid and loan payments in limbo. The shutdown has blocked assistance for many farmers, who at this time of year apply for federal loans as they pay […] Read more