Reading Time: 2 minutes Sao Paulo/Rio de Janeiro | Reuters — Brazil’s agriculture ministry said that two cases reported on Thursday of a neurodegenerative disorder in patients in Rio de Janeiro state were not related to beef consumption, tamping down fears of possible BSE causing human illness. Federal biomedical institute Fiocruz, which is investigating the possibility of bovine spongiform […] Read more

Brazil plays down BSE risk in suspect cases in people

Brazil’s JBS bought 301,000 cattle from ‘irregular’ farms in Amazon, audit finds
Prosecutors 'negotiating improvements' with companies
Reading Time: 2 minutes Sao Paulo | Reuters — Nearly a third of the cattle bought by JBS SA in the Brazilian Amazon state of Para came from ranches with “irregularities” such as illegal deforestation, prosecutors found in a 2020 audit of the world’s largest meatpacker released on Thursday. In a presentation, federal prosecutors said they were “negotiating improvements” […] Read more

ICE weekly outlook: Canola waiting on fresh news
Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — The ICE Futures canola market held rangebound during the week ended Wednesday, looking for some direction. “None of these markets are flashing any strong signals that there’s much going on… they’re waiting for fresh news and there isn’t much around right now,” said Ken Ball of PI Financial in Winnipeg. While uncertainty over […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME hogs extend gains in recovery from slide
Cattle futures follow boxed beef lower
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures on Friday extended a rebound from a selloff that dragged the market to its lowest prices since February this week, while cattle futures sagged. The hog market was due for a correction to the upside after the most-active December contract fell 13.5 per cent from […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Nearby hogs up in rebound off six-month low
CME cattle futures slide
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures ended higher in nearby contract months on Wednesday, as the market rebounded from a drop to its lowest prices in more than six months. Most-active December hogs recovered after dropping 12.5 per cent since the start of the month on concerns about slowing U.S. pork […] Read more

China’s buyers expect Brazil’s beef back soon despite BSE cases
Reading Time: 2 minutes Beijing | Reuters — Chinese beef importers said Monday the suspension of exports by top supplier Brazil due to two cases of BSE has had no immediate market impact, with some still making purchases in anticipation of a quick resumption of trade. Brazil said on Saturday it had confirmed two cases of ‘atypical’ bovine spongiform […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle touch three-month lows
Demand from packers softening
Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures slid to three-month lows on Tuesday, as beef demand slows, leaving cattle producers with ample supply as packer demand softens, traders said. “Packers are bought for a long ways out — have a lot of inventory,” said Scott Varilek, broker at Kooima Kooima Varilek Trading […] Read more

Brazil’s ag ministry investigating suspected BSE case
Evidence suggests 'atypical' BSE, source says
Reading Time: < 1 minute Sao Paulo | Reuters — Brazil’s agriculture ministry said Wednesday it was investigating a suspected case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in the country, according to a statement. An industry source told Reuters, on condition of anonymity, that the suspected case occurred in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais. The ministry said such investigations are […] Read more

CBOT weekly outlook: Factors worth watching
Oats showing recent strength
Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Choppiness in Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) soyoil, a potential increase in corn prices and an upcoming production report from Statistics Canada are factors on which grains analyst Terry Reilly suggests keeping an eye. Soyoil has been hit by early reports that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was going to recommend to the […] Read more

Cannabis firms catch whiff of opportunity in Brazil
Canadian producers among those now supplying Brazilian market
Reading Time: 3 minutes Sao Paulo | Reuters — International cannabis companies are showing interest in Brazil, both its large consumer market for medicinal products and a proposal that could legalize planting of the crop. Major producers such as Colombia’s Clever Leaves and Canada’s Canopy Growth are developing and selling medicinal cannabis products to a Brazilian consumer segment estimated […] Read more