Reading Time: < 1 minute Reuters — Mosaic Co. on Wednesday missed Wall Street estimates for first-quarter profit on lower prices of potash and other crop fertilizers, even as the fertilizer maker sold higher volumes. Although prices of fertilizers such as phosphates and potash decreased during the reported quarter, it did not boost demand as farmers waited for pricing trends […] Read more
Mosaic misses profit estimates on lower prices of fertilizers
Farmers seen waiting on prices to stabilize
Russia to keep talking with UN before Black Sea deal deadline
Deal on table for talks Friday in Istanbul
Reading Time: 2 minutes Moscow | Reuters — Russia said on Wednesday that it will keep talking to the United Nations about the future of a deal that allows the safe Black Sea export of Ukraine grain, but would not do anything to harm its own interests. Top UN trade official Rebeca Grynspan is due to travel to Moscow […] Read more
EU sets Ukraine grain import restrictions in five countries until June 5
Supports pledged for farmers in those countries
Reading Time: < 1 minute Brussels | Reuters — The European Commission said on Tuesday it set restrictions until June 5 on imports of Ukrainian wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflower seed to ease the excess supply of these grains in Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. The EU executive arm said that during that period, Ukrainian wheat, maize, rapeseed and […] Read more
Limagrain offers to buy out seed maker Vilmorin
Pride Seeds co-owner has majority stake in veg seed firm
Reading Time: 2 minutes Paris | Reuters — French agricultural co-operative Limagrain has offered to buy the 28.78 per cent of Vilmorin it does not already own in a deal that values one of the world’s biggest seed suppliers at 1.43 billion euros (C$2.13 billion). Limagrain said on Friday it was offering 62.60 euros per Vilmorin share, a premium […] Read more
Deal reached to resume Ukraine grain transit with five EU countries
Agreement includes support package for local farmers
Reading Time: < 1 minute Brussels | Reuters — The European Commission said Friday it had reached a deal in principle to allow transit of Ukrainian grain to resume through five European Union countries that had imposed restrictions. Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia cited concerns that grain from Ukraine meant to be exported to other countries had ended up […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Hog futures rise on cash market strength
CME cattle futures mixed
Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures rose on Friday, supported by strength in the cash market and good overseas demand for pork, traders said. Cattle futures were mixed, with feeder cattle contracts easing on a round of profit-taking after setting new contract highs while live cattle contracts ended firm. CME’s most-active June […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle futures firm as corn prices fall
Lean hog futures down on profit-taking
Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures ended firm on Thursday as corn futures sank to a nine-month low. Falling corn prices raised prospects for reduced feeding costs, traders said. Hog futures weakened, pressured by a round of profit taking after hitting their highest since April 4. The gains in cattle were kept […] Read more
European Commission to ban Ukrainian grain exports to Romania
Talks ongoing with Ukraine's other neighbours
Reading Time: < 1 minute Bucharest | Reuters — The European Commission will ban Ukrainian grain and oilseeds exports to Romania until June 5, Romanian Agriculture Minister Petre Daea said on Wednesday. Romania has stopped short of enforcing a ban, whereas Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria and Slovakia took unilateral steps to protect local markets from a flow of Ukrainian farm products. […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle rise as corn prices drop
Chicago lean hogs also strong
Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures rose Wednesday, supported by weakness in corn prices that boosted expectations for lower feeding costs, traders said. Hog futures rallied on strength in the cash markets. CME’s most-active June live cattle contract gained 0.55 cent, to 164.575 cents, rising above its 10-day moving average (all figures […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Live cattle, hogs mostly weaker
Feeder cattle futures mixed
Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle and hog futures contracts were mostly weaker on Tuesday, with ample supplies weighing on prices. Traders also noted pressure from poor cash market values and concerns about demand due to worries about the global economy. “There probably is a little bit of a drag from outside […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
