Washington | Reuters –– The U.S. Agriculture Department (USDA) on Monday will announce revised nutrition standards dramatically boosting average food stamp benefits, the agency confirmed Sunday. The New York Times first reported the plan to unveil the largest permanent benefits increase in the history of the government’s primary anti-hunger program, saying the change would result […] Read more

U.S. confirms will boost food stamps by record amount

Pulse weekly outlook: World Pulses Day celebrated
MarketsFarm — The United Nations celebrated the annual World Pulses Day on Feb. 10, highlighting the contribution of pulse crops to world agriculture and nutrition. “Pulses are more than just nutritious seeds – they also contribute to achieving the goals of the 2030 Agenda of Sustainable Development,” the UN said in a release. “They play […] Read more

ADM beats profit estimates but revenue disappoints
Reuters — Global grains trader Archer Daniels Midland beat Wall Street estimates for quarterly profits on Thursday, helped by strength in its grain milling and nutrition businesses. Still, revenue missed analysts’ expectations and net earnings attributable to the company were 44 per cent lower than a year earlier. Shares were down nearly three per cent […] Read more

Schoepp: Seize, prepare for and appreciate the day
Reading Time: 3 minutes There is nothing quite like a harvest moon. It is made especially memorable when watched rising while having a tailgate supper, or when moving into the next pass without interruption of light or landscape. It is these moments we treasure at harvest time. Everyone on the team should have a moment to stop and enjoy […] Read more

DuPont said considering sale of nutrition, biosciences unit
Reuters — Specialty chemicals maker DuPont is considering a sale of its nutrition and biosciences unit, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The unit, which supplies everything from soy-based food ingredients to tablet binders, could be worth at least US$20 billion as a standalone entity, Bloomberg said. DuPont declined to comment […] Read more

Less rain equals more danger for cattle on your ranch
Reading Time: 3 minutes Polioencephalomalacia, fog fever, blue-green algae, and vitamin A deficiency. Those are just four potential health threats to cattle when conditions are extremely dry. “The biggest problem we have on the Prairies is water that is high in sulphates,” said Dr. John Campbell, professor in the department large animal clinical sciences at the University of Saskatchewan. […] Read more

Ag minister announces launch of Canadian food policy
Canada has its first food policy, an initiative to increase access to safe, nutritious and culturally diverse food, and to cut food waste. Marie-Claude Bibeau, minister of agriculture and agri-food and parliamentary secretary, Jean-Claude Poissant made the announcement Monday in Montreal. “The Food Policy for Canada is our road map for a healthier and more […] Read more

ADM says to seek early retirements, may cut jobs
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. grain trader Archer Daniels Midland said on Wednesday it will seek voluntary early retirements by some North American employees and may eliminate individual jobs as part of a restructuring of specific areas. The actions are needed to strengthen ADM’s core business and establish the company as a global leader in […] Read more

A plateful of advice offered in new national food guide
But that plate has less meat, more plant-based protein, and water is the ‘drink of choice’
Reading Time: 3 minutes “Don’t see a lot of meat or dairy!” That tweet from a University of Guelph food expert summed up the reaction of many farm groups in the country following the unveiling of the revamped Canada’s Food Guide. As expected, Health Canada’s new edition of the guide — last revised in 2007 — recommends Canadians eat […] Read more

Nestle to buy Canadian nutrition firm Atrium
London | Reuters — Nestle is buying Canadian vitamin and nutritional supplement maker Atrium Innovations for US$2.3 billion, expanding its presence in consumer healthcare as it seeks to offset weakness in packaged foods. The world’s largest packaged food company said on Tuesday it will buy the maker of vitamins, probiotics and meal replacements from a […] Read more