(Dave Bedard photo)

Beef demand, crush margins boost Cargill’s Q1 ledger

Reuters — Grains trader Cargill reported a nearly five per cent rise in quarterly profit on Thursday as global demand for beef and improved oilseed crushing results offset challenges in several business units. But Cargill also faced various headwinds across the company — particularly in its protein and food ingredients units, both of which have […] Read more

A Sept. 12 view from the International Space Station down the eye of Hurricane Florence, which has since weakened to a post-tropical cyclone. (NASA photo)

Florence shuts down U.S. slaughterhouses

Chicago/Los Angeles | Reuters — U.S. food companies kept slaughter plants shut on Monday in southeastern states swamped by Hurricane Florence as flash floods collapsed the walls of at least two hog manure pits, made roads undriveable and delayed rail shipments. Catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Florence, which has dumped up to 36 inches of rain […] Read more

Despite the growth in cultured meat investment, meat from animals will be needed due to rising protein demands.

Beef producers hear they have a role in the future

With plant-based meat substitutes and lab-grown meat, traditional beef producers will still be needed to feed world’s growing population, says Cargill executive

Beef industry leaders from across the country shared a look into the future during the recent third annual Canadian Beef Industry Conference (CBIC). They were assured there’s a place for them in that future. “People still crave meat,” said Sonya Roberts, president of Growth Ventures and Strategic Pricing for Kansas-based Cargill Proteins at the conference […] Read more

(Video screengrab from TalentsLaCoop.coop)

Coop federee buys into Ontario feed sector

Fresh off its recent investment in the Prairie livestock feed business, Quebec ag co-operative giant La Coop federee is headed down a similar path in southwestern Ontario. The co-operative announced Monday it will pay an undisclosed sum for a 50 per cent stake in W-S Feed and Supply, based at Tavistock, Ont., about 30 km […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Beef, eggs, feed fatten Cargill’s profits

Chicago | Reuters — Strong global demand for beef and animal feed fattened grain trader Cargill’s profits in fiscal year 2018, which were also boosted by trade tensions and South American weather woes, the company said on Thursday. For the full year, adjusted operating earnings reached $3.2 billion, up six per cent from fiscal 2017 […] Read more


(VerdientFoodsInc.com)

Pulse weekly outlook: Processing boom to help in long run

CNS Canada — Even with one new pulse processing plant on line in Western Canada and more on the way, producers will still have to wait before these new ventures have a significant effect on marketing of their pulse crops. Numerous pulse processing plants have been announced in the last year. French company Roquette broke […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Cargill upgrading rail loading at Lethbridge

Agrifood firm Cargill is reworking the site layout and expanding its rail loading capacity at its grain elevator in the Lethbridge city limits. The company recently announced a $20 million project to “more than double” the loading capacity at the Lethbridge elevator, from 56 to 134 cars. “The industry standard for rail capacity is increasing, […] Read more



(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle sag despite fundamentals

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle nearby contracts on Wednesday were weakened by funds that sold, or “rolled,” June positions into back months ahead of similar moves early next week, said traders. Nearby market losses trumped futures’ bullish discount to cash prices, strong wholesale beef values and triple-digit beef packer profits. June […] Read more

A controlled atmosphere stunning system for chicken processing. (Marel.com)

Cargill to replace chicken plant’s stunning system

Agrifood firm Cargill has budgeted $22 million to swap out an electric stunning system at its London, Ont. chicken processing plant in favour of a new controlled atmospheric stunning (CAS) system. The CAS system, expected to be up and running this spring, “will help reduce handling stress with chickens, resulting in a higher-quality, more consistent […] Read more