Farmers are used to the conversation about how to manage trust with consumers. Food companies are learning it too, and finding food fraud to be a significant concern. Food fraud “comes back to trust,” according to Renata McGuire of NSF Consulting and Technical Services. “Do I trust this brand?” McGuire, along with Sylvain Charlebois, dean […] Read more
Cereals
Greig: Food fraud a challenge to whole food supply chain
U.S. grains: Soy up ahead of USDA data
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures climbed nearly one per cent on Tuesday, halting a three-session slide, as traders adjusted positions a day ahead of a U.S. government crop report and as excessively wet weather in the Midwest raised concerns, analysts said. Corn futures closed modestly higher while wheat fell, pressured by a stronger […] Read more
K+S vows new Saskatchewan mine won’t undermine prices
Frankfurt | Reuters — German potash miner K+S vowed it would not have to undercut rivals on price as it brings two million tonnes of new potash capacity to the North American market next year. Faced with the gradual depletion of its domestic reserves over the next 35 to 40 years, K+S built its new […] Read more
Farm sales to co-ops to count for small business deduction
Changes to federal tax law that were meant to block “multiplication” of the small business deduction for corporations won’t apply to farmers’ sales to co-operatives. The federal government on Friday released draft amendments to the Income Tax Act, which would allow qualifying farmers and fishers selling to agricultural and fisheries co-operatives to be eligible for […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat hits one-week low as weather improves
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures fell about two per cent to a one-week low on Monday, and corn and soybeans also declined on prospects for improving crop weather in the Midwest and Plains, analysts said. “The weather is getting better. The fact that we don’t have a very threatening forecast is why we […] Read more
Crop chemical maker FMC aims for growth after DuPont deal
Reuters — Pesticide seller FMC Corp. will aim for its industry’s fastest revenue growth with the help of assets acquired from rival DuPont, even as farm markets struggle to recover, CEO Pierre Brondeau said on Monday. Philadelphia-based FMC will focus on increasing sales of crop chemicals developed internally, and avoid big acquisitions for a few […] Read more
Bayer to sell Liberty brands to get Monsanto deal passed
Frankfurt | Reuters –– Bayer has agreed to sell its Liberty herbicide and LibertyLink-branded seeds businesses to win antitrust approval for its acquisition of Monsanto, it said on Monday. The divestment of the two global brands, a requirement imposed by South Africa’s Competition Commission on Sunday, will account for the bulk of asset sales worth […] Read more
Sobeys, Safeway parent seeks cost-cutting ‘leverage’
Empire Co., the parent firm for about 1,500 grocery stores across Canada, plans to restructure from a regional to a “largely national” operation cutting $500 million in annual costs by the end of 2020. Nova Scotia-based Empire — whose stores operate under brands including Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, and Lawton’s — on […] Read more
Towns evacuated as heavy rains pelt Eastern Canada
Toronto/Ottawa | Reuters — Torrential rains lashed parts of central and Eastern Canada on Friday, causing flooding, flight delays and traffic disruptions, and the prime minister said the federal government was ready to provide help if necessary. The provinces of Ontario and Quebec have been dealing with the fallout of heavy spring rainfall this week, […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat, corn bounce on short-covering
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures rose on Friday, supported by lingering concerns about crop damage in the U.S. Plains following a snow storm at the weekend. Short-covering also contributed to the wheat gains as traders covered bearish bets following a sell-off on Thursday. Corn futures also rose, with traders noting short-covering as a […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
