World crop briefs: China seeks cuts to soy in feed

Reading Time: < 1 minute CNS Canada — The China Feed Industry Association is proposing soybean meal in hog rations be reduced, to offset rising costs and reduced supplies caused by the U.S.-China trade war. China imported about 87 per cent of its soybean needs last year and one-third of that came from the U.S., according to a report in […] Read more



CME October 2018 lean hogs, with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs extend recovery, near six-month high

Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures climbed to their highest prices in about six months on Friday on technical buying. CME October hogs reached a session high of 68.825 cents/lb., the contract’s highest price since April 19, before paring gains (all figures US$). It ended up 0.7 cent/lb., at 68.2 cents. […] Read more

Sides of pork in cold storage. Tariffs on U.S. pork in China and Mexico have curtailed U.S. exports, resulting in price-depressing oversupply. (Agnormark/iStock/Getty Images)

Hog producers continue struggle toward profitability

Reading Time: 4 minutes CNS Canada — Hog prices might have regained some value in recent days, but many producers are still a long way from profitability, according to the chair of Manitoba Pork. That’s why lenders such as Farm Credit Canada, who show they understand the needs of producers who are dependent on commodity markets, are appreciated, said […] Read more



Taste-testing during a Canadian Beef Advantage Seminar in Shanghai in 2013. (Canada Beef via YouTube)

Trade pact clause seen deterring China trade deals with Canada, Mexico

Reading Time: 3 minutes Washington | Reuters — China’s hopes of negotiating a free trade pact with Canada or Mexico were dealt a sharp setback by a provision deep in the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement that aims to forbid such deals with “non-market” countries, trade experts said on Tuesday. The provision specifies that if one of the current North […] Read more



U.S. grains: Bigger-than-expected supplies knock down prices

U.S. grains: Bigger-than-expected supplies knock down prices

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. grain futures slumped on Friday after the U.S. Department of Agriculture said farmers and crop handlers had more supplies in storage than analysts expected. The bigger-than-expected inventories from previous harvests add to an oversupply as U.S. farmers are starting to bring in another massive corn and soybean crop from their […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

Beef demand, crush margins boost Cargill’s Q1 ledger

Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — Grains trader Cargill reported a nearly five per cent rise in quarterly profit on Thursday as global demand for beef and improved oilseed crushing results offset challenges in several business units. But Cargill also faced various headwinds across the company — particularly in its protein and food ingredients units, both of which have […] Read more