Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Canada’s pulse industry had to endure more than its fair share of challenges and obstacles in 2021, domestic and abroad. Nevertheless, the national organization representing pulse growers, traders and processors feels the industry will be strong in the New Year. An already tight supply situation became tighter in 2021 as drought in Western […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: New investments cause for optimism
Sector looking forward beyond challenges of 2021
Elevators hope mandatory vaccination doesn’t disrupt operations
New regulations will require all federally regulated employees to comply early in 2022
Reading Time: 4 minutes Canada’s major companies hope their operations won’t be disrupted when Ottawa requires federally regulated employees be vaccinated against COVID-19 starting early in 2022. “It depends on whether employees that aren’t vaccinated will get vaccinated, or would they leave their jobs,” Wade Sobkowich, executive director of the Western Grain Elevator Association (WGEA) said in an interview […] Read more
Audit finds Canada failing migrant farmworkers on COVID-19, housing inspections
Reading Time: 2 minutes Toronto | Reuters — As the COVID-19 pandemic raged, federal government inspectors frequently deemed the employers of migrant workers compliant with health and safety rules despite a lack of evidence, according to an Auditor General report released Thursday. While Canadian provinces and territories set housing standards, the federal government is responsible for ensuring tens of […] Read more
U.S. EPA proposes biofuel mandate cuts
Proposal seen as boost to pandemic-hit refiners
Reading Time: 3 minutes New York | Reuters — The Biden administration proposed on Tuesday a reduction in the amount of biofuels that U.S. oil refiners were required to blend into their fuel mix since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The long-awaited decision offers some relief to the U.S. refining industry after the health crisis slammed domestic demand […] 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. grains: Wheat slide continues in volatile week
Soybeans rise, corn up on support from crude oil prices
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago wheat futures slid once again on Friday, after a volatile week in which prices plunged on investor fears about the economic impact of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, traders said. Wheat prices had steadied early in the day’s session but then started falling again on news that U.S. employment growth […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME cattle, hogs end down on profit-taking
Futures decline despite higher beef prices
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle, feeder cattle and hog futures ended lower on Friday as profit-taking hit the livestock markets ahead of the weekend, traders said. Live cattle futures consolidated after setting contract highs this week, traders said. Most-active CME February live cattle finished 0.625 cent lower at 138.95 cents/lb. (all […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat rallies as global demand offsets virus worries
USDA confirms China buys U.S. soybeans
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. and European wheat futures jumped on Thursday as a series of import tenders and fears of rain damage to Australia’s harvest overshadowed concerns over the spread of the new coronavirus variant. Soybean and corn futures also advanced at the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT). Global demand for wheat put renewed […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle, hogs up with export demand
Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle and lean hog futures rose again on Thursday, as fresh export numbers underscored strong demand for meat. Meanwhile prices on feeder cattle futures were mixed, as trades in the cash market prices jumped, traders said. Cash cattle had traded earlier in the week at $137-$138/cwt in […] Read more
U.S. grains: Grain futures regain ground as COVID jitters ease
Corn, soy firm after also hitting near three-week lows with wheat
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago wheat futures turned higher Wednesday, recouping some of their steep losses from the previous session, as investor concerns that the Omicron coronavirus variant would derail the global economy began to ease. Corn and soybeans also regained ground on end-user buying, traders said, following hopes of export buyers looking for deals […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
