Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters –– The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is assessing whether dicamba herbicide can be sprayed safely on soybean and cotton plants genetically engineered to resist the chemical, without the procedure posing “unreasonable risks” to other crops, an agency official said Tuesday. Farmers and scientists for years have reported problems with dicamba drifting away […] Read more
U.S. EPA reviewing dicamba over crop damage claims
McDonald’s, Beyond Meat seen planning big U.S. McPlant expansion
Reading Time: 2 minutes New York | Reuters — McDonald’s Corp. is planning a major expansion of its plant-based burger with Beyond Meat Inc. in the United States in 2022, according to two Wall Street analysts. The companies began testing the “McPlant” patty in eight McDonald’s U.S. locations in November. Those restaurants have been selling enough of the sandwiches […] Read more
Farmers ask U.S. Justice Department to probe fertilizer price spikes
Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — Farmers have asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate whether recent spikes in fertilizer prices are attributable to market manipulation by fertilizer companies, according to a letter sent Wednesday by the Family Farm Action Alliance. The group, which has more than 6,000 farmer and rural members, alleges fertilizer companies are setting prices […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Wheat, barley supplies tighten, replaced by corn
Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — The further tightening of wheat and barley feed supplies is prompting feedlots to purchase more corn from the U.S., according to an Alberta-based analyst. “We’re nine months away, or almost 10 months away from more inventory coming in. There’s not much there for wheat and barley,” said Mike Fleischhauer of Eagle Commodities at […] 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
U.S. EPA to propose expanding credit eligibility under biofuel program
Reading Time: < 1 minute New York | Reuters — The Biden administration is expected to propose expanding the kinds of renewable fuel production processes that are eligible to receive credits under the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard program, three sources familiar with the matter said. The move could help increase production of advanced biofuels, which include lower-carbon products such as […] Read more
P.E.I. potato exports to U.S. halted
Canada imposes new rules after potato wart findings
Reading Time: 4 minutes Canada has moved to halt exports of Prince Edward Island potatoes to the United States after findings of potato wart in the province last month — on what federal officials describe as the threat of a U.S. ban. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Monday it has “temporarily suspended” exports of fresh potatoes from P.E.I. […] Read more
U.S. border reopens to Canadian land travelers
Travel business sees 'tremendous pent-up demand'
Reading Time: 3 minutes Toronto | Reuters — A steady stream of Canadian visitors, particularly retirees headed to U.S. sun spots, crossed the U.S. border by car on Monday for the first time in 20 months as Washington lifted travel restrictions. Traffic was heavy at times at some U.S. border posts such as Bluewater Bridge, Michigan near Sarnia, Ont., […] Read more
U.S., UAE lead $4-bln effort to help farming adapt to climate change
Reading Time: 2 minutes Johannesburg | Reuters – The United States and the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday used COP26 climate talks to launch efforts to channel funding into making agriculture resilient to climate change, as well as to cut its emissions. The farming industry, a major part of the U.S. economy, is already battling the effects of climate change, including […] Read more
CBOT weekly outlook: Potential U.S.-China trade deal moving markets
Reading Time: 2 minutes Speculation regarding a potential trade deal between the United States and China is sparking movement on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBoT). Ryan Ettner, broker for Allendale Inc. in McHenry, Ill., said there was optimism on the markets last week when trade representatives from both nations restarted talks. With the countries’ current deal expiring at […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
