Reading Time: < 1 minute London | Reuters — Cargill plans to close its rapeseed crush facility in Hull, eastern England, the global commodities trader said Tuesday. The mill, which Cargill has been operating since 1985, has the capacity to crush 750 tonnes of seed a day to produce 420 tonnes of rapeseed meal and 323 tonnes of crude rapeseed […] Read more

Cargill plans to close U.K. rapeseed crush plant
Fewer U.K. farmers growing crop

CEOs of four large U.S. meatpackers to testify in Congressional hearing
Beef prices up for consumers, down for ranchers
Reading Time: < 1 minute Washington | Reuters — The chief executives of U.S. meatpackers Cargill, Tyson Foods, JBS and National Beef Packing have agreed to testify at a Congressional hearing discussing cattle markets and price increases for consumers, House agriculture committee chairman David Scott said Wednesday. “It is very important, very vital, and very urgent that we hear the […] Read more

Quebec group seeks to sue beef packers over pricing
Group's class-action application alleges price-fixing dating back to 2015
Reading Time: 2 minutes A Quebec consumer protection group intends to launch a class action lawsuit against four major beef processors in Canada and the U.S., alleging a “meat pricing conspiracy.” “At a time of high inflation, it is unacceptable to make the price of beef even more expensive than it already is,” Sylvie De Bellefeuille, a lawyer for […] Read more

Bunge says sanctions may have ‘adverse effect’ on Russian operations
Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — Global agricultural commodities trader Bunge said continued conflict in Ukraine and stinging sanctions on Russia could have an “adverse effect” on its operations in the breadbasket region. Bunge and rival agribusinesses ADM and Cargill suspended operations in Ukraine last week after Russia invaded its neighbour. But none have stopped their business in Russia […] Read more

Biden unveils plan to boost competition in U.S. meat industry
Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — The United States will issue new rules and US$1 billion in funding this year to support independent meat processors and ranchers as part of a plan to address a lack of “meaningful competition” in the meat sector, President Joe Biden said Monday. The initiative comes amid rising concerns that a handful of big […] Read more

Strike averted at Cargill’s High River beef plant
Deal that hikes wages by 21 per cent and offers large bonuses receives majority backing
Reading Time: 2 minutes Workers at Cargill’s beef packing plant in southern Alberta have voted in favour of a contract that will hike wages by 21 per cent and provide improved health benefits. “The contract is the best of its kind and presented unprecedented gains in this time of economic and political uncertainty,” United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME cattle, hog futures finish higher
Investors' COVID concerns eased
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange livestock futures finished higher on Wednesday as the markets recovered after dropping the previous session to their lowest prices in more than a week. Prices rose as investors’ concerns eased about the Omicron coronavirus variant, which rattled commodity and financial markets on Tuesday, traders said. Chicago Board of […] Read more

Cargill beef plant workers to vote on new negotiated offer
High River workers otherwise headed for strike or lockout Monday
Reading Time: 3 minutes Workers at Cargill’s major beef slaughter and packing plant in Alberta will vote this week on a new offer which it’s hoped will avert a strike or lockout, both due to start Monday. The new offer follows a “marathon” of negotiations Tuesday between Cargill representatives and the bargaining committee for United Food and Commercial Workers […] Read more

Cargill serves lockout notice on High River workers
Company 'willing to keep meeting' after offer rejected
Reading Time: 3 minutes Updated — Whether in a strike or a lockout, workers at one of Canada’s biggest beef slaughter plants took another step toward the picket line this week by voting to reject the company’s latest contract offer. A vote conducted Tuesday and Wednesday by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 401 went to the […] Read more

High River beef plant workers to vote on Cargill offer
UFCW bargaining committee is recommending nay
Reading Time: 2 minutes Workers on the verge of striking at Cargill’s major beef cattle slaughter plant at High River, Alta. will vote this week on a new contract offer from the company. However, the union bargaining committee for the workers, represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 401, is recommending employees vote against the proposal. […] Read more