Chicago | Reuters — As powerful Hurricane Florence advanced toward the southeastern U.S., farmers in North Carolina rushed to harvest corn and tobacco and stock up on pig rations, while the danger of sustained rain and deadly flooding threatened a state where millions of farm animals are housed. “The governor said that North Carolina is […] Read more
U.S. farmers rush to clear crops but animals stay in Florence’s path
Durum markets rattled as harvest set to start
CNS Canada — With the durum wheat harvest rapidly approaching in Western Canada, many analysts wonder how the dry conditions and extreme heat will affect yields. Yet there is one aspect about this year’s crop they already know. Increased seeded acreage this spring, and market access problems hindering longer-term durum sales, mean farmers might want […] Read more
CBOT weekly outlook: Corn, soy run into strengthening U.S. currency
CNS Canada — The growing currency crisis in Turkey is starting to impact other economies throughout the world, and by extension commodities such as soybeans and corn. As the Turkish lira drops in value, many investors have begun to put their money into the U.S. currency. It’s a common move when markets are troubled as […] Read more
Turkish currency crisis casts cloud over lentil exports
CNS Canada — The plunging value of the lira is threatening to curb sales of Canadian lentils to Turkey — traditionally one of Canada’s biggest customers for the pulse. The Turkish lira hit a record low on Monday as soaring inflation and political turmoil sent the currency plunging relative to the U.S. dollar. At the […] Read more
Declining lentil prices should level off, improve
CNS Canada — Red lentil growers, who have seen prices cut in half during the past year and a half, may finally be able to find solace in what some analysts call a brighter outlook for the remainder of 2017. “I personally am optimistic that we will see higher prices. Some other people will dispute […] Read more
Tight chickpea supplies to limit Canadian acres
CNS Canada — Tight chickpea supplies will keep Canada from taking advantage of fresh demand out of Turkey, while any acreage increases will also be hampered by poor seed supply. Due to its own domestic chickpea shortage, Turkey recently announced it was temporarily lifting import tariffs on chickpeas. Turkey has bought Canadian chickpeas in the […] Read more
Maple Leaf to shut southern Ontario turkey plant
Maple Leaf Foods plans to outsource all its fresh turkey processing to another company’s southern Ontario plant in 2018 after shutting its own operation. The company announced Tuesday it will close its plant at Thamesford, Ont., east of London, after phasing its production over the next 18 months into Sofina Foods’ plant at Mitchell, about […] Read more
Cargill stops using human antibiotic against disease in turkeys
Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. meat processor Cargill has stopped using an important antibiotic for people to prevent disease in turkeys, the company said Tuesday, the latest food maker to drop the drug amid concerns about the impact on human medicine. Cargill has not used the drug, gentamicin, to prevent disease in turkeys that supply […] Read more
Breeding cattle get market access to Turkey
Exporters of Canadian breeding cattle expect to see another $4.5 million per year in business from a new agreement for market access to Turkey, according to the federal government. Canada’s Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay and Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland on Monday announced an agreement with Turkey on export certificates for Canadian breeding cattle effective “immediately.” […] Read more
Turkey bans ammonium nitrate sales after bomb attacks
Istanbul | Reuters — Turkey has banned the sale of fertilizers containing ammonium nitrate, which can be used in explosives, after at least half a dozen car bomb attacks this year, the agriculture minister said on Thursday. The move comes after 11 people including six police officers were killed on Tuesday in a car bomb […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
