Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures on Wednesday rose for the sixth time in seven sessions on expectations that a drought-reduced crop in Argentina would buoy demand for U.S. supplies. Gains were limited by plentiful global supplies and strong production prospects in Brazil. Wheat slipped to a two-week low, pressured by high world supplies […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soybeans rise as drought withers crops in Argentina

Final version of Trans-Pacific trade deal released
Wellington/Sydney | Reuters — The final version of a landmark deal aimed at cutting trade barriers in some of the Asia-Pacific’s fastest-growing economies was released on Wednesday, signalling the pact was a step closer to reality even without its star member the U.S. More than 20 provisions have been suspended or changed in the final […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soymeal rally lifts soy, corn
Reuters — U.S. soybean meal futures jumped to their highest level since July 2016 on Tuesday as a drought kept the heat on crops in Argentina, the world’s top exporter of the livestock feed. The rally helped lift soybean and corn prices, which touched seven-month and six-month highs, respectively. Sizzling conditions in Argentina since November […] Read more

WTO should prepare for life without U.S., ex-chief Lamy says
Geneva | Reuters — World Trade Organization countries need to prepare for a future without the United States as a member of the club, former WTO chief Pascal Lamy said on Monday. The U.S. has thrown the WTO into crisis by blocking the appointment of new judges, undermining its dispute settlement system just as it […] Read more

Canada to seek Mercosur trade pact amid NAFTA uncertainty
Ottawa | Reuters — The Canadian government plans to open free trade talks with the four-nation Mercosur trading bloc in South America, an official said on Friday, at a time when the future of NAFTA is facing increasing uncertainty. Canada sends around 75 per cent of its goods exports to the U.S. and is looking […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soy falls on profit-taking
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures fell from their highest since late July on Friday as traders locked in profits from this week’s weather-driven rally. Soymeal futures were mixed, with the most active contract snapping an eight-session winning streak after rallying to its highest in more than a year and a half. Deferred soymeal […] Read more

Deere upgrades 2018 outlook on improving equipment demand
Reuters — U.S. farm equipment maker Deere and Co. on Friday boosted its sales outlook for fiscal 2018, citing strengthening conditions in agricultural and construction markets, sending its shares higher. For the past four years, Deere has been battling weak demand for farm equipment as a global grain glut pushed down prices, sending U.S. farm […] Read more

Rural Ontario leader appointed to Senate
A leader in Ontario’s agriculture and rural community is one of Canada’s newest senators. Rob Black, executive director of the Rural Ontario Institute and a former president of 4-H Canada, was named Thursday as one of two new senators from Ontario by Governor General Julie Payette. Why is this significant? It has been a long […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soy, wheat rise on weather concerns
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures rose on Thursday to their highest level since July 25 as an ongoing drought in key exporter Argentina underpinned prices. Soymeal futures, which hit a 19-month high, headed higher for the eighth straight session as fears have mounted that Argentina will struggle to meet its export commitments for […] Read more

Ontario, U of Guelph renew ag research partnership
Up to $713 million in agriculture research will be funded at the University of Guelph over the next 10 years through a renewal of the university’s agreement with the provincial ag ministry. The new agreement has been updated to manage digital data and is aimed to provide a base from which to leverage more research […] Read more