Reading Time: 2 minutes Farming is a complex business. In March 2020 the Teerling family of Lindsay Lake Farms was set to move their farm from Germany to Nova Scotia. The limitations on growth in their native Germany prompted them to look for a new place to call home. After visiting Nova Scotia in 2019, and deciding on a […] Read more
A modern pioneer adventure
Summer Series: Pivot, and then pivot some more
[Change Management] Why would this family abandon mainline commodities, and then dig in even deeper
Reading Time: 11 minutes Just making one of these moves would be a huge step for any farm, let alone both of them. First, the Haskett family switched their farm from hogs to goats. Then, years later, they pivoted their market strategy too, launching their own new brand. In this article, we dive deep into how the family made […] Read more
U.S. food companies go deal hunting as pandemic growth fades
Twinkies maker Hostess exploring a sale
Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — U.S. packaged food companies are set for a flurry of deals in a push to revamp their brand portfolios as their pandemic-era fortunes fade and benefits of price hikes start to taper off. Last month, Campbell Soup struck a $2.7 billion deal for Rao’s sauce maker Sovos Brands (all figures US$). Unilever bought […] Read more
Canada retools inflation baskets with more focus on food, gas
Snowblowers and barbecues in, DVD players out
Reading Time: 2 minutes Ottawa | Reuters — Canada’s national statistics agency on Tuesday revealed new weights for the basket of goods and services in its Consumer Price Index, giving more prominence to changes in the prices of food and gasoline. The reweighting, which Statistics Canada carries out every year, has historically had only a marginal impact on the […] Read more
Beef consumption to rise in China, JBS predicts
China seen as more competitive in domestic chicken, pork markets
Reading Time: < 1 minute Sao Paulo | Reuters — Demand for beef in China is expected to rise as the country still has relatively low per capita consumption, Gilberto Tomazoni, chief executive of JBS SA, said on Wednesday during a business conference. He said Brazil and the U.S., where JBS has meat facilities, are well positioned to meet China’s […] Read more
China’s 2022 pork output highest in eight years
Average hog weights remain relatively high
Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — China’s pork output increased 4.6 per cent in 2022 from 2021 to reach its highest level since 2014, official data showed on Tuesday, confounding some expectations for a smaller rise. Pork output in the world’s top producer of the meat reached 55.41 million tonnes, the highest since 56.71 million tonnes recorded eight years […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans firm as investors track Argentine weather
Wheat, corn drift lower after multi-week highs
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybean futures rose on Thursday, after rallying earlier in the day to the highest price since June, as investors tracked forecasts for much-needed rain across Argentine crops and China’s dropping of strict COVID-19 measures. But the price rally was capped by investors looking to capture profits and adjust their positions […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soy firm on Argentina weather, China demand hopes
Wheat market awaits U.S. winterkill assessment
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybean futures rose for a third consecutive session on Wednesday as traders watched weather forecasts in Argentina for signs of much-needed rainfall, while China’s dismantling of COVID-19 restrictions raised hopes for improved demand. Corn also found support from uncertain weather in South America, while wheat lifted as trade kept monitoring […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME February hogs hit two-month low
China COVID-19 concerns a factor; live cattle close higher
Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — CME live hog futures fell to a two-month low on Monday, notching their fifth straight day of declines on concerns that Chinese pork consumption will fall during the country’s upcoming Lunar New Year celebrations, traders said. Cattle futures were firm, with strength in the cash market underpinning prices. Weakness in Chinese […] Read more
CBOT weekly outlook: Circumstances could mess with usual holiday lull
Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Usually at this time of year, the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) slips into its holiday lull, with most trading sticking to a sideways range, Scott Capinegro of Barrington Commodities said, suggesting that could change. “With such geo-political stuff going on and a possible railroad strike [in the United States], it kind of […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
