Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live and feeder cattle futures weakened with boxed beef prices on Wednesday as large supplies of heavy livestock are ready for slaughter, commodity brokers said. Cattle heading to slaughter weigh more, analysts said, because they put on pounds as animals backed up in feedlots when meat plants closed in April […] Read more
Tag Archives COVID-19
U.S. livestock: Cattle futures, boxed beef prices weaken
October lean hogs up slightly
Pulse weekly outlook: Lentil prices off pandemic peak
MarketsFarm — Lentil prices received a bit of a bump earlier in the year from peak pandemic panic-buying, but have subsided in recent weeks. “At the beginning, a lot of people were buying, which led to a spike in prices,” explained Marcos Mosnaim of Globeways Canada in Mississauga. “That scarcity has come down a lot.” […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Large supplies push cattle, hogs mostly lower
Over 17,000 cases of COVID in packing plant workers, U.S. CDC reports
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. cattle and hog futures ended mostly lower on Tuesday under pressure from large supplies, analysts said. Live cattle futures retreated a day after nearing a two-month high, while feeder cattle pulled back after reaching their highest price in month than a month on Monday. “We’ve gotten a bit overbought on […] Read more
COVID-19 leads to cancellation of Foodgrains Bank fundraising events
There’s hope for good harvests from the charity’s sites with decent weather this spring
The Canadian Foodgrains Bank is feeling the pressures of COVID-19. The organization is devoted to providing food in times of crisis to hungry people in the developing world, but has seen some of its fundraising decline without the ability to host its usual concerts and dinners, due to COVID-19. It’s finding, however, that individual donations […] Read more
China suspends beef imports from Cargill plant
High River plant on long list of blocked facilities
China has temporarily suspended imports of beef from Cargill’s major beef packing plant at High River, Alta., part of a long list of meat plants blocked in the last half of June. The Reuters news service on Monday published a list of meat packing plants from around the world which during June and early July […] Read more
Ontario investigating 17 temp agencies after virus outbreaks on farms
"We stand firm against exploitation in our province"
Toronto/Winnipeg | Reuters — Ontario is investigating 17 temporary recruitment agencies, the province’s labour ministry said, after health officials warned that agencies that move workers from farm to farm could be contributing to COVID-19 outbreaks. Canadian farms rely on some 60,000 people who come to Canada on temporary work permits every year, typically living and […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Barley bids soften as sector stabilizes
MarketsFarm — Feed barley bids in Western Canada have softened over the past two weeks, as some normalcy returns to the feeding sector. Feed barley bids delivered into the key Lethbridge feeding area have come down by $6-$8 per tonne over the past two weeks, with current prices around $240 per tonne, said Brandon Motz […] Read more
CUSMA pact takes effect under cloud of disputes, COVID-19
Deal appears to assure continuity of trade for agriculture
Washington/Mexico City/Ottawa | Reuters — A modernized U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade pact took effect on Wednesday, ensuring continuity for manufacturers and agriculture, but the threat of disputes is exposing cracks in what was meant to be a stronger North American fortress of competitiveness. As the deal kicks in, the Trump administration is threatening Canada with new aluminum […] Read more
Chinese researchers warn of new virus in pigs with human pandemic risk
Shanghai | Reuters — A new flu virus found in Chinese pigs has become more infectious to humans and needs to be watched closely in case it becomes a potential “pandemic virus,” a study said, although experts said there is no imminent threat. A team of Chinese researchers looked at influenza viruses found in pigs […] Read more
Analysts see COVID-19 as unlikely to impact farmland values
Number of transactions could slow as prices continue increasing
As the global economic roller coaster trip continues, will the pandemic radically change Ontario’s farmland values? Probably not, say analysts, though fewer transactions are likely. Why it matters: COVID-19 will likely impact the number of people selling farmland, but not the overall value, according to analysts. In the extreme corner of southwestern Ontario, a virtual […] Read more
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