BNSF crews clear track near Lemmon, S.D., about 300 km northeast of Rapid City, in late December 2016. (BNSF.com)

Snow, avalanches, rain delay grain movement to U.S. ports

Chicago | Reuters — Severe winter weather has slowed rail deliveries of crops to shippers in the U.S. Pacific Northwest, sending freight rates soaring and prompting Asian buyers to seek fill-in loads as they wait for the backlog at ports to clear. Blizzards, avalanches and heavy rain in recent weeks have hit transport of corn, […] Read more

(Jennifer Blair photo)

With demand, deregulation, ‘opportunities abound’ for hemp

CNS Canada — Aggressive contracting in the hemp sector is expected to bump up Canadian acres — another benefit for growers who will experience less red tape this year. “We’ve seen a lot of activity on the contracting side for growers,” said Kim Shukla, executive director of the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance at Steinbach, Man. […] Read more

(Stephen Ausmus photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Japan, Korea block certain U.S. wheat varieties

Chicago | Reuters — Japan and South Korea have both taken steps to block certain imports of U.S. wheat after unapproved genetically-modified (GMO) plants from Monsanto seeds were found growing in Washington state, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said on Monday. Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry said it will […] Read more


(Cia.gov)

Korea finds hogs infected with foot-and-mouth

Seoul | Reuters –– South Korea has detected foot-and-mouth in a southwestern hog farm, the first such discovery in nine months and a blow to authorities pushing to contain the disease. The case involved a type of the disease that animals are inoculated against in South Korea, with all 670 hogs at the infected farm […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Korea’s temporary ban on Canadian beef lifted

South Korea’s temporary ban on imports of Canadian beef and veal, imposed after Canada’s discovery of a 19th case of BSE in February, has been lifted as of Wednesday. Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay and Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland announced the Korean government’s decision Thursday. South Korea had re-imposed its ban on Canadian beef after the […] Read more

(Canada Beef Inc. photo)

S. Korea blocks Canadian beef again over BSE case

Seoul | Reuters –– South Korea has halted imports of Canadian beef after Canada on Friday confirmed its first case of mad cow disease since 2011, the South Korean agriculture ministry said. South Korea was seeking more information about the outbreak and discussing public safety with relevant authorities, the ministry said in a statement. The […] Read more