Photo: File

Mexican president moves to prioritize domestic corn for tortillas

Mexico is embroiled in a dispute with the U.S. over decree to limit use of GM corn

Mexico City | Reuters — Mexico’s president announced on Monday he will sign an agreement this week with makers of the country’s food staple tortillas that ensures they only use non-genetically modified (GM) white corn while also setting new tariffs on imports of the grain. Tariffs on white corn imports from countries that do not […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Prices, shipments steady as dryness continues

Drought 'priced into the market already'

MarketsFarm — Demand for feed grains at Alberta feedlots continues unabated as more corn from the United States makes its way into the province. “Demand at feedlots has been status quo. Feedlots are buying imported U.S. corn and DDGS. Along with that, there is also barley and feed wheat. They are getting enough supplies right […] Read more


File photo of a cornfield in Mexico. (Roberto Cabrera/iStock/Getty Images)

Canada gets in on U.S. trade challenge of Mexico’s GM corn ban

Canada to have third party role in CUSMA dispute consultations

A U.S. challenge under the Canada-U.S.-Mexico free trade agreement (CUSMA), against Mexico’s planned ban on genetically modified corn, will now also have Canada at the table. Rob Stewart, Canada’s deputy minister for international trade, wrote Friday to U.S. and Mexican trade officials, formally announcing Canada’s intent to take part in the CUSMA dispute settlement consultations […] Read more

File photo of a cornfield in Mexico. (Roberto Cabrera/iStock/Getty Images)

U.S. escalates dispute with Mexico over GM corn

Canada 'considering next steps'

Mexico City | Reuters — The U.S. is escalating its conflict with Mexico over agriculture biotech measures, including the stance on genetically modified (GM) corn, by requesting dispute settlement consultations, senior officials of the U.S. Trade Representative’s office said on Friday. The North American neighbours are inching closer to a full-blown trade dispute under the […] Read more


File photo of a barley seedling. (SusanHSmith/iStock/Getty Images)

Feed weekly outlook: Rain falls, grain prices to follow

U.S. corn values expected to decline

MarketsFarm — Feed grain prices in Western Canada are showing the usual seasonal weakness as spring seeding continues, but prices are set to fall further. “I think as we get going, (prices) are going to lower down quite a bit,” Mike Fleischhauer of Eagle Commodities Ltd. at Lethbridge said. “The corn market over the next […] Read more

File photo of a barley seedling. (SusanHSmith/iStock/Getty Images)

Feed weekly outlook: Short-term premiums add to fluctuations

Truckers seen trying to stay as local as possible

MarketsFarm — Although most feed grain buyers were fairly well covered through spring seeding, Susanne Leclerc of Market Master Ltd. at Edmonton said some were looking for feed to get through the coming weeks and offered premiums. “Which is a shock for seeding season,” she said, suggesting it’s best to shop around, with prices fluctuating […] Read more


Corn in progress just east of Blumenort, Man. on July 20, 2022. (Dave Bedard photo)

After growing GM corn for decades, some U.S. farmers open to Mexican restrictions

Biden administration seeks to challenge ban

Chicago | Reuters — Mexico has found unexpected allies as it tries to limit imports of genetically modified (GM) corn: some U.S. farmers who grow the crops. Farmers have for decades planted GM corn, which protects against insects and herbicides, with seeds sold by companies such as Bayer, Corteva and ChemChina’s Syngenta. But as believers […] Read more

The skeleton of a fish is seen in the Navarro lagoon, which dried up due to the climate phenomenon La Nina, in Navarro in Argentina’s Buenos Aires province on Dec. 5, 2022. (File photo: Reuters/Agustin Marcarian)

Argentina soybeans go from ‘worse to worser,’ expert says

Heatwave now crisping early-planted crops

MarketsFarm — Extreme heat and drought throughout most of Argentina have taken a huge toll on that country’s soybean crop. Dr. Michael Cordonnier of Soybean and Corn Advisor said the forthcoming soybean harvest is now likely to produce 25 million to 30 million tonnes, a far cry from the 40 million to 45 million tonnes […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Corn the choice crop in feedlots

'Bigger feedlots are looking for volume'

MarketsFarm — Copious amounts of corn are still being delivered to feedlots in southern Alberta despite slowly declining prices for other feed grains. “Corn is coming down over the last little bit,” Mike Fleischhauer of Eagle Commodities Ltd. in Lethbridge said. “You think that there would be a little bit more barley hitting the market. […] Read more

Corn in progress just east of Blumenort, Man. on July 20, 2022. (Dave Bedard photo)

Canada reported seeking formal talks with Mexico on GMO rule

U.S. already seeking similar talks

Ottawa | Reuters — Canada has asked for formal consultations with Mexico over its restrictions on genetically modified (GM) agricultural imports under the North American free-trade agreement, Bloomberg News reported Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. Canada requested the talks on Tuesday, according to Bloomberg, a day after the U.S. requested formal trade consultations […] Read more