Articles Written by Rod Nickel

Cargill shuts China feed mills as swine fever spreads

By Rod Nickel, Tom Polansek July 12, 2019

Chicago | Reuters — Cargill shuttered animal-feed mills in China in recent months partly because the rapid spread of a fatal hog disease has reduced demand, a company executive said Friday. The closures highlight the pain for global agriculture companies from the outbreak of African swine fever in China, the world’s top hog producer and […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Hogs, Livestock, Reuters

Canada proposes China meat export solution

By David Ljunggren, Rod Nickel July 3, 2019

Reuters — Canada offered a plan to reassure China about the security of its meat export system, a Canadian minister said on Wednesday, as Ottawa rejected Chinese criticism of its efforts to enlist allies to resolve a diplomatic dispute between the countries. China said last week it wanted the Canadian government to stop allowing meat […] Read more

Hogs, Livestock, Markets, Reuters

China’s shutout of Canadian meat scrambles global pork flow

By Rod Nickel June 26, 2019

Winnipeg | Reuters — China’s decision to block imports of Canadian meat has set off a global chain reaction in pork trading but it will do little to curb overall demand as a disease ravaging the Chinese hog herd elevates prices, industry experts say. China said on Tuesday it wants the Canadian government to temporarily […] Read more

Livestock, Markets, Reuters

China halts Canadian meat shipments over bogus documents

By Kelsey Johnson, Rod Nickel June 25, 2019

Ottawa | Reuters — China said Tuesday it will turn away all meat shipped from Canada, just days before China and the United States sit down to work on settling a trade dispute that has also caught Canada in the crossfire. China launched an investigation after inspections found residues of ractopamine, a feed additive not […] Read more

Crops, Pasture, Reuters, Weather

Rain gives farmers relief, for now, from three-year drought

By Rod Nickel June 25, 2019

Winnipeg | Reuters — With drought turning Chad Ross’s pastures brown, the southeastern Saskatchewan rancher sent 140 head of cattle to slaughter earlier than usual this spring, as the Prairies’ three-year drought made them too expensive to feed. The ranch and feedlot near Estevan has lost money two straight years. Long-awaited rains that swept the […] Read more

Crops, Machinery, Markets, Weather

China, drought, debt shake Canadian farm finances

By Kelsey Johnson, Rod Nickel June 19, 2019

Winnipeg/Ottawa | Reuters — For years, the financial stability of Canadian farmers was the envy of their U.S. counterparts, but rising costs, drought and a dispute with China have weakened their bottom lines. Net incomes plunged last year, and that setback was followed in March by China’s halting purchases of canola, Canada’s biggest crop. Now […] Read more

Canola, Crops, Markets, Reuters

Ottawa expands insurance for canola exporters amid China dispute

By Kelsey Johnson, Reuters, Rod Nickel June 13, 2019

Ottawa/Winnipeg | Reuters — Ottawa increased the insurance coverage available for canola exporters, a government corporation said on Thursday, as it seeks to reduce trade risks amid a dispute with China. China halted purchases of Canadian canola in March, citing pests in shipments by Richardson International and Viterra. That move, which came as Beijing has […] Read more

Crops, Markets, Reuters, Spring Wheat

Canadian wheat sales to China hit 14-year high despite dispute

By Karl Plume, Rod Nickel June 6, 2019

Winnipeg/Chicago | Reuters — Canada has shipped the most wheat to China in 14 years, contrasting a sudden halt in canola trade amid a diplomatic dispute between the countries, as Chinese buyers shunned the United States. China bought 1.5 million tonnes of wheat from Canada from August 2018 through April 2019, nearly double the pace […] Read more

Crops, Machinery, Markets, Pulses, Reuters

Update: Vancouver lockout of longshoremen ends

By Kelsey Johnson, Rod Nickel May 30, 2019

Winnipeg/Ottawa | Reuters — A lockout of longshore workers at Canada’s biggest port, the Port of Vancouver, ended in a deal on Thursday after a few hours, averting a potentially massive shipping disruption, the workers’ union and employers association said. The lockout was immediately lifted and the union also withdrew its strike notice, according to […] Read more

Crops, Markets, Reuters

New Bunge CEO looks to downsize company before growing again

By Rod Nickel May 15, 2019

New York | Reuters — The new chief executive of oilseed processor Bunge said Wednesday that the company needs to downsize in the short term and earn “the right to grow again,” by avoiding costly mistakes and operating with financial discipline. “We’re going to let the numbers drive what should happen for us. First, we […] Read more

China June pork imports surge more than 62 per cent from previous year

Klassen: Yearling prices surge

U.S. grains: Futures drop as hopes of Chinese buying spree fizzle

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