Washington | Reuters — More than 100 Nobel laureates called on the international environmental group Greenpeace on Thursday to end its opposition to genetically modified crops, saying there is a scientific consensus they are safe and can benefit society. At a news conference, the scientists cited in particular the value of a genetically modified rice […] Read more
Nobel laureates urge Greenpeace to stop opposing GMOs
Sluggish demand, ample supplies eat into Lethbridge feed prices
CNS Canada — Lethbridge feed wheat and barley prices have dropped after a muted spring rally — and they’re likely to stay low throughout the summer, market participants say. “They have a weak tone to them. I think a lot of it is lacklustre demand domestically,” said Allen Pirness, trader at Market Place Commodities in […] Read more
U.S. grains: USDA report pushes wheat to six-year low, corn to 11-week low
Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. wheat futures sank to a six-year low on Thursday and corn futures hit an 11-week low after the agriculture department said farmers had planted more of the grains than expected. Soybean futures soared to two-week highs as plantings fell short of analysts’ estimates. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in […] Read more
U.S. farmers surprisingly boost corn plantings, soy acres at record
Washington | Reuters — U.S. farmers seeded more corn and soybeans than they had initially planned to during the spring, taking advantage of a rallying futures market and good weather to plant as much acreage as possible, government data showed on Thursday. The robust plantings will likely add to an ample supply base of both […] Read more
Pearce: Precipitation maps have Ontario farmers seeing red
It’s official: Spring 2016 will go down as an excessively dry season for Ontario growers — and most hope the summer will be considerably wetter. Last week, we cited reports of stressed-but-surviving corn and soybean crops in midwestern Ontario, which had received spotty showers early in the week. The crops were showing signs of drought-stress […] Read more
CBOT weekly outlook: Corn, soy to fall on weather, post-report
CNS Canada — Corn and soybean futures at the Chicago Board of Trade are moving into position ahead of two key reports, but following that data, the market will shift back into weather trading, one U.S. analyst says. Corn — Corn futures moved lower on the week ended Wednesday, as traders exited long positions with […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat, corn fall sharply
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures fell on Wednesday, extending their decline under pressure from the ongoing harvest of a bountiful crop in the Plains and the Midwest which threatens to add to a glut of supplies that is largely being shunned by overseas buyers. Corn futures also dropped, pressured by forecasts for rain […] Read more
Monsanto in talks with Bayer, others about ‘strategic options’
Chicago | Reuters — Monsanto is in talks with Bayer and other companies regarding “alternative strategic options,” a month after it rejected the German company’s US$62 billion takeover offer, the U.S. seed producer said on Wednesday. Monsanto’s options include combinations with other companies and businesses in the sector beyond Bayer. Potential deals could involve BASF […] Read more
European Commission to extend glyphosate licence for 18 months
Brussels | Reuters — The European Commission is extending by 18 months its approval for the herbicide glyphosate, used in Monsanto’s Roundup, Health Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis said on Tuesday. Contradictory findings on carcinogenic risks have thrust the chemical into the centre of a dispute between EU and U.S. politicians, regulators and researchers. Campaign groups urged […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybean futures rise, corn flat, wheat weak
Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures rose 1.3 per cent on Tuesday to a one-week high, on concerns about crop development in the U.S. Midwest and signs of good export demand, traders said. Corn futures were mostly steady, with traders locking in profits after weather concerns pushed prices to a one-week […] Read more
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