Chicago | Reuters — U.S. cattle futures eased on Friday as traders locked in profits following two straight sessions of higher prices and as beef packers bought few animals in cash cattle markets, traders and analysts said. Expectations that meat packers might pay prices roughly steady with cattle sales of about $109/cwt a week ago […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle ease on profit-taking, lack of cash sales
U.S. to move ahead with Mexico pact, keep talking to Canada
Washington/Toronto | Reuters — Contentious U.S.-Canada trade talks ended on Friday with no deal to revamp the North American Free Trade Agreement after the mood soured, and President Donald Trump notified Congress of his intent to sign a bilateral trade pact with Mexico. U.S. and Canadian trade officials set plans to resume their talks on […] Read more
Fear, frustration on dairy farms as trade concessions sought
Winnipeg/Montreal | Reuters — Marie-Pier Vincent, a fourth-generation Quebec dairy farmer, worries it will be even harder to make ends meet if Canada allows more tariff-free imports of milk products from the U.S. under a reworked North American Free Trade Agreement. Vincent, 28, is already looking for a second job to pay back the money […] Read more
Canada, U.S. push toward NAFTA deal by Friday
Washington | Reuters — Top NAFTA negotiators from Canada and the U.S. increased the pace of their negotiations Thursday to resolve final differences to meet a Friday deadline, with their Mexican counterpart on standby to rejoin the talks soon. Despite some contentious issues still on the table, the increasingly positive tone contrasted with U.S. President […] Read more
Trump, Trudeau upbeat about prospects for NAFTA deal by Friday
Washington | Reuters — The leaders of the U.S. and Canada expressed optimism on Wednesday that they could reach new NAFTA deal by a Friday deadline as negotiators prepared to talk through the night, although Canada warned that a number of tricky issues remained. Under pressure, Canada rejoined the talks to modernize the 24-year-old North […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Hogs ease on weak cash markets, spreading
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures fell on Tuesday, pressured by weaker prices in cash hog markets and spreading as the market gave back a portion of the steep gains notched on Monday, traders and analysts said. Hog futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange on Monday jumped by their three-cent daily price limit […] Read more
Canada rejoins NAFTA talks, deal seen as possible this week
Washington | Reuters — Canada’s top trade negotiator joins her Mexican and U.S. counterparts in Washington on Tuesday in a bid to remain part of a revamped trilateral North American trade pact, as U.S. officials expressed optimism a deal could be reached this week. But Ottawa will be under pressure to accept new terms on […] Read more
U.S., Mexico reach NAFTA deal, turning up pressure on Canada
Washington | Reuters — The U.S. and Mexico agreed on Monday to overhaul the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), putting pressure on Canada to agree to new terms on auto trade and dispute settlement rules to remain part of the three-nation pact. Auto stocks soared and financial markets firmed on the expectation that Canada […] Read more
U.S. drops ag demand from NAFTA talks, Mexico farm lobby says
Mexico City | Reuters — The United States has dropped a contentious demand from the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement to impose restrictions on Mexican agricultural exports, Mexico’s top farm lobby said on Sunday. Talks to rework the 24-year-old pact are entering a crucial phase and Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo said […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Hogs up, cattle firm on hopes for Mexico deal
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. hog and cattle futures rose on Friday, boosted by hopes that a trade agreement with Mexico will be finalized in the coming days, traders said. Mexico’s economy minister Ildefonso Guajardo said on Friday he hopes to conclude by the middle of next week outstanding bilateral issues with the U.S. surrounding […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
