The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Wednesday that a patient has been hospitalized with a severe case of H5N1 infection in Louisiana, marking the first known instance of a severe human illness linked to the bird flu virus in the United States.

U.S. confirms first severe human case of bird flu

General Mills cuts profit outlook as promotions rise to win back consumers
General Mills slashed its annual profit forecast on Wednesday as the Cheerios cereal maker ramped up investments in promotions to attract cost-conscious consumers, sending shares down about three per cent in early trading.

China to promote modernization of farms in pledge to stabilize grain output
China will accelerate the pace of agricultural and rural modernization and stabilize grain planting area in its quest to ensure stable and high production of grains, state media reported on Wednesday, citing an annual rural policy meeting.

US funding bill includes plan to allow year-round sales of higher ethanol blend fuel
A U.S. government funding bill released on Tuesday included a plan that would allow year-round sales of gasoline with a higher ethanol blend, a major win for the corn and ethanol lobbies.

Prairie forecast: Cold start, but then turning mild
Forecast issued Dec. 18, covering Dec. 18 to 25, 2024
To start this forecast period, we have a strong area of Arctic high pressure dropping southeastwards behind the area of low pressure that hit the eastern Prairies earlier in the week. This high will bring a quick shot of cold weather to Saskatchewan and Manitoba from Wednesday to Friday.

Saskatchewan cow tests positive for bovine tuberculosis
A cow raised in Saskatchewan has tested positive for bovine tuberculosis the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced late Tuesday.
U.S. livestock: CME feeder cattle up on expectations of tight supply
Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) feeder cattle futures rose on Tuesday as market players anticipated a constricted supply of cattle and awaited a monthly cattle supply report later in the week, traders said.

Pulse Weekly: Looking at price shifts in 2024
Production up for most Canadian pulses
Pulses in Canada had quite the year in 2024 with prices closing out the calendar year in the middle of their trading ranges. Production was higher on the year for most pulses. Dry pea output in Canada rose to just short of three million tonnes, up from the 2.61 million harvested in 2023, according to the Statistics Canada principal field crop report issued Dec. 5.

U.S. grains: Soybeans hit contract lows on strong South American harvest
Chicago soybean futures sank to life-of-contract lows on Tuesday as favorable crop conditions in Brazil and weak Chinese demand for U.S. soybeans hung over the market, traders said.

American company to debut eggs from in-ovo sexed chicken flock
American company NestFresh will begin marketing eggs from in-ovo sexed chickens next year, a feat it's touting as a leap forward for animal welfare.