Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Hurricane-force winds tore across the U.S. upper Midwest Thursday evening, sending walls of dust across cities and rural towns, causing widespread property damage and killing at least two people. Straight-line winds up to 170 km/h reached from Kansas to Wisconsin, pushing waves of farmland topsoil across the horizon and plunging communities […] Read more
Dust storm, hurricane-force winds tear across U.S. upper Midwest
U.S. EPA proposal likes canola oil for renewable fuel
A final EPA decision is expected this summer, which, if favourable, could add new demand for Canada's premier oilseed
Reading Time: 3 minutes Canola has another feather in its cap — one which is expected to put more money in farmers’ pockets. In a ‘proposed decision’ released in April the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized canola oil’s value as an environment-friendly alternative to fossil-based fuel — a move that’s expected to add new demand for the crop. […] Read more
U.S. EPA allows temporary summer sales of higher-ethanol fuel
Waiver seen as score for corn growers
Reading Time: 2 minutes New York | Reuters — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued an emergency waiver for a higher-ethanol gasoline blend on Friday, allowing summertime sales of the fuel in an attempt to help lower gasoline prices at the pump. The move represents a temporary win for the biofuels industry and corn farmers, as it will likely […] Read more
U.S. extends COVID vaccine requirements for non-citizens at land borders
U.S. agribusinesses still seeking exemptions for cross-border truckers
Reading Time: 2 minutes Washington | Reuters — The United States government said Thursday it’s extending a requirement that non-U.S. citizens crossing land or ferry terminals at the U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico borders must be vaccinated against the coronavirus. The requirements were first adopted in November as part of reopening the United States to land crossings by foreign tourists after […] Read more
U.S. says sanctions on Russia don’t affect humanitarian aid, ag exports
Reading Time: 2 minutes Washington | Reuters — The United States on Tuesday took steps to make clear that U.S. sanctions imposed on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine do not stand in the way of humanitarian assistance and agricultural and medical exports, among other support. The U.S. Treasury Department in a fact sheet outlined that Americans can engage […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Larger U.S. pea, lentil areas expected
Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Farmers in the United States will grow more lentils and peas in 2022, although chickpea area may be down, according to early estimates ahead of spring seeding. Total pea area in the country is forecast at 1.088 million acres, which would be up 11 per cent from 2021, according to the U.S. Department […] Read more
U.S. congressmen seek revival of mandatory COOL on beef
Bipartisan bill calls for WTO-compliant take on label law
Reading Time: 3 minutes A bill that would order U.S. officials to come up with a way to bring back mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL) on beef has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. Rep. Lance Gooden, a Republican from Texas, and Rep. Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, on Wednesday introduced H.R. 7291, proposing to restore the […] Read more
Soybeans to gain, corn to lose U.S. acres, USDA report predicts
Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — More soybean acres are projected to be seeded in the United States this year, while fewer corn acres will be planted according to a report that has surprised analysts. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its survey-based Prospective Plantings report on Thursday and the projected acreage numbers for two of the country’s […] Read more
JBS says U.S. domestic and international businesses to remain strong
Reading Time: 2 minutes Sao Paulo | Reuters — Brazilian meatpacker JBS, which operates multiple food processing facilities in the U.S. and one of Canada’s largest beef packing plants, said its North American operations will continue to drive performance. Speaking at a conference call to discuss fourth-quarter results, management said JBS will benefit from strong U.S. domestic demand for […] Read more
CF Industries boosts U.S. fertilizer shipments as Russian exports cut
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — CF Industries is increasing fertilizer shipments to both U.S. coasts from the world’s largest nitrogen complex in Louisiana to help offset a decline in exports from Russia after it invaded Ukraine, CEO Tony Will said. Global fertilizer supplies have tightened and prices have increased from already high levels as sanctions bite […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
