San Cristobal/Barinas, Venezuela | Reuters — Hungry mobs ransacked a food collection centre and a supermarket in Venezuela’s western Andean state of Merida on Thursday and reportedly even slaughtered cattle grazing in a field as unrest over food shortages spread through the country. An opposition lawmaker from Merida, Carlos Paparoni, said four people had died […] Read more
Food riots grip western Venezuela
Canada talks tough on trade as NAFTA talks’ endgame nears
London, Ont. | Reuters — Canada is talking tough with the U.S., stressing its determination to push back against what it says are unfair trade practices ahead of crucial talks to revamp the tri-nation North American Free Trade Agreement. U.S., Canadian and Mexican officials meet this month for the sixth and penultimate round of talks […] Read more
Canadian companies struggle to plan for post-NAFTA world
Toronto | Reuters — Canadian industries that would be most acutely impacted by the death of the North American Free Trade Agreement are unable to meaningfully plan for a possible post-NAFTA world given the uncertainty of what could replace it, analysts and executives said. With three quarters of Canadian exports landing in the U.S., the […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans down ahead of USDA crop data
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybean futures fell to a four-month low on Thursday ahead of U.S. Department of Agriculture data due on Friday that was expected to show bigger U.S. stockpiles and higher Brazilian soy output. Wheat futures also eased after weekly U.S. wheat export sales came in below analyst expectations, while corn futures […] Read more
Prairie processors plan gluten-free partnership
A Saskatchewan firm processing gluten-free oats is pairing up with a Manitoba pulse miller to expand Prairie producers’ space in the certified gluten-free market. Portage la Prairie-based Best Cooking Pulses and Regina-based Avena Foods on Monday announced a new partnership agreement they say will boost cross-selling and market penetration. Financial terms of the partnership, which […] Read more
Mexico will leave NAFTA talks if Trump triggers process to withdraw
Mexico City | Reuters — Mexico will leave the NAFTA negotiating table if U.S. President Donald Trump decides to trigger a six-month process to withdraw from the trade pact, three Mexican sources with knowledge of the talks told Reuters on Wednesday. Reuters reported earlier in the day that Canada was increasingly convinced that Trump would […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans fall on U.S. inventories
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures slid to a four-month low on Wednesday, declining for the third straight session on expectations of higher U.S. stocks due to slower exports and a forecast of increased production in Brazil. Wheat futures were slightly higher and corn flat as investors squared positions ahead of the U.S. Department […] Read more
Canada taking U.S. to WTO in complaint over trade remedies
Geneva | Reuters — Canada has launched a wide-ranging trade dispute against the United States, challenging Washington’s use of anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties, Canada said in a WTO filing dated Dec. 20 and published on Wednesday. Canada appeared to be mounting a case on behalf of the rest of the world, since it cited almost […] Read more
Major U.S. grain firms fear harm from new tax law
Chicago | Reuters — The new U.S. tax law is poised to drive more control over the nation’s grain supply to farmer-owned co-operatives, provoking concern among ethanol producers and privately run grain handlers that they could be squeezed out of the competition to buy crops. Until now, the co-operatives, private companies and publicly traded firms […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat, corn higher on short-covering
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat and corn futures gained on Tuesday, after earlier falls, as investors covered short positions and prepared for government crop data due on Friday. Wheat steadied after three sessions of declines and corn bounced from three-week lows. The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Friday is expected to show smaller U.S. […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
