Reading Time: < 1 minute Reuters — A Tyson Foods unit said Thursday it will temporarily halt production at a beef facility at Pasco, Washington, adding to the meat processing plant the company has had to shutter as it tests workers for COVID-19. Tyson said Wednesday it was closing two pork processing plants, including its largest in the U.S., further […] Read more
Tyson to shutter beef facility as workers tested
Beef plant employees asked to isolate at home
EU sets out COVID-19 support for farmers
Moves meant to stabilize markets
Reading Time: 2 minutes Brussels | Reuters — The European Commission proposed measures on Wednesday to support farmers hit by the coronavirus restrictions, including aid to store surplus dairy and meat products. Under the proposals, the Commission will grant aid for private storage of milk powder, butter and cheese as well as beef, sheep and goat meat for a […] Read more
G20 ag ministers say COVID-19 measures shouldn’t disrupt food supply
Reading Time: 2 minutes Dubai | Reuters — Agriculture and food ministers from the Group of 20 (G20) countries agreed at a virtual meeting on Tuesday that emergency measures to stop the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus must not upend global food supply chains. Their extraordinary meeting came as coronavirus lockdowns across the world slow global food supply chains, […] Read more
JBS shuts Minnesota pork plant due to coronavirus
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — JBS USA said on Monday it would indefinitely shut a Minnesota hog slaughterhouse that produces about five per cent of the country’s pork, in the latest disruption to the U.S. food supply chain from the coronavirus pandemic. The closure limits the amount of meat the United States can produce for consumers […] Read more
Trump administration aims to buy milk, meat to help farmers, Perdue says
Homeland Security to ease visa rules for ag workers
Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — The U.S. government plans to buy milk and meat from farmers as part of an initial US$15.5 billion effort to help them weather the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said on Wednesday. The decision comes amid rising pressure from the U.S. farm lobby for government purchases as growers and […] Read more
Proxy advisers split over endorsing Bayer management
Chemical giant to host AGM April 28
Reading Time: 2 minutes Frankfurt | Reuters — Shareholder advisory groups are divided over whether to endorse the management and directors at German drugs and pesticides company Bayer, according to recommendations submitted by proxy voting firms. Bayer is due to host its annual general meeting on April 28 but the company still faces potentially huge litigation risks stemming from […] Read more
China reclassifies dogs as pets, not livestock
New guidelines drafted in post-virus regulatory push
Reading Time: 2 minutes Shanghai | Reuters — China has drawn up new guidelines to reclassify dogs as pets rather than livestock, the agriculture ministry said, part of a response to the coronavirus outbreak that the Humane Society called a potential “game changer” in animal welfare. Though dog meat remains a delicacy in many regions, the ministry of agriculture […] Read more
Smithfield shuts South Dakota pork plant over COVID-19
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Smithfield Foods, the world’s biggest pork processor, is temporarily closing a massive plant at Sioux Falls, S.D., the company said Thursday, after more than 80 workers there tested positive for coronavirus. The shutdown is the latest disruption to the U.S. food supply chain from the pandemic and comes as grocery store […] Read more
China yet to resume all canola imports from Canada, officials say
No correction measures yet shown, Chinese foreign ministry says
Reading Time: < 1 minute Beijing | Reuters — China has yet to resume all canola imports from Canada, the foreign ministry said on Friday, after suspensions were imposed on some suppliers last year. Canola imports from some Canadian exporters were suspended by China because of quality reports and it has not received any correction measures, so imports have not […] Read more
Ontario drops weed from essentials list
Officials call for further intervention
Reading Time: < 1 minute Reuters — Ontario’s government on Friday removed cannabis from a list of essential businesses allowed to operate during the lockdown, as part of its efforts to further restrict contact amid a deepening coronavirus crisis. The move comes after health officials projected 80,000 COVID-19 coronavirus cases and about 1,600 deaths by month end under current policies, […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
